“How much farther to the Sacred Lake?” The weather was freezing, and Lei Jin felt the misty breath leaving his mouth instantly turn into ice crystals. He leaned all his weight on the wooden stick in his right hand—his legs were numb, and he couldn’t walk anymore. They had been trekking through the snow for five straight days. The distant snow-capped mountains were visible but never seemed to get any closer. When would this journey end?  

Xiya took the bag from Lei Jin’s shoulder and bent down, saying once more, “Get on. I’ll carry you.” He had said this many times already, but Lei Jin refused to listen. In such cold weather, even the werebeasts were struggling, let alone Lei Jin. Females were naturally less physically resilient than werebeasts.  

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“No, I can hold on for two more days.” He didn’t know how much longer the road ahead was, so he couldn’t afford to collapse now. The first eleven days had been manageable—Xiya and the others still had their wings, making the journey relatively smooth. But then their wings disappeared, and their tails uncontrollably grew out. Apparently, this was a normal reaction as they neared the Sacred Lake. By the time they actually reached it, they would only be able to maintain their beast forms.  

“Let me carry you,” Moya offered. Xiya was already burdened with most of their luggage. He looked at Lei Jin and said, “If you keep pushing yourself like this, you won’t make it. It might snow again tonight, and we need to find a cave to take shelter from the wind and snow.”  

Lei Jin knew he was pushing his limits and slowing everyone down. But Moya and the others were also walking on foot now—carrying him would make it even harder to trudge through the snow.  

“If I’d known, we should’ve held the ceremony in spring. At least then it’d be like a spring outing.” Lei Jin tugged at his collar but still shook his head in refusal. “I’ll tell you when I really can’t go on.”  

Seeing his stubbornness, Moya didn’t press further. He pulled out a leather pouch from his coat—it held wine given by Ivey—and lowered Lei Jin’s scarf, pressing it to his lips. “Take a few sips. It’ll warm you up.”  

Lei Jin gulped down a few mouthfuls, and Mingya fed him two pieces of marinated duck meat. After a short rest, they resumed their journey.  

“Are you really okay, Lei Jin?” Mingya kissed his ice-cold cheek, heart aching. He knew Lei Jin was exhausted.  

“Of course I am. I think I hear water up ahead. Let’s race to see who gets there first.” Lei Jin stomped the snow off his boots, swung his arms to shake off the fatigue, and forced himself to perk up. It’s just walking. What’s so hard about it? It’s not like he had fewer legs than the others.

The other three chuckled and followed closely behind.  

The sky was a crystal-clear blue when it wasn’t snowing, pristine like glass. The snow-covered ground stretched endlessly, untouched by animal tracks.  

Further ahead lay a vast forest. As they passed beneath the trees, no matter how careful they were, snow still showered down on their heads. The riverbank had shallow streams trickling through, and fallen trees lay scattered in the snow.  

“Let’s rest here for a bit,” Xiya suggested.  

Lei Jin brushed the snow off his hat and scarf before sitting on a protruding tree branch. He couldn’t take another step.  

“Lei Jin, look what I found!” Mingya, who had wandered off earlier, came running back with a snow-covered branch.  

“What is it?” Lei Jin forced a smile. He was drained, but Mingya looked so excited that he had to play along.  

“Frostberries! They’re not as tasty as rockfruit, but still pretty good.” Mingya shook the snow off the branch, revealing clusters of small red berries, each the size of a walnut. Their skins were frozen and cracked with black fissures.  

Mingya popped one into his mouth. The flesh inside was a creamy yellow, translucent like jelly.  

Sweet—that was Lei Jin’s first impression. Dry and not very juicy—his second.  

Mingya jumped onto the branch beside Lei Jin, wanting to sit together. The not-so-sturdy branch snapped with a crack, sending both of them tumbling into the snow.  

“Dummy.” Lei Jin laughed, flipping over to straddle Mingya’s waist. His icy fingers, still covered in snow, slipped under Mingya’s collar.  

Mingya wrapped his arms around him, twisting and pleading for mercy. Xiya and Moya, though usually mature and composed, couldn’t resist joining in the childish fun now that they were alone. Soon, all four fathers were wrestling in the snow, their laughter echoing far across the clear sky.  

Closer to the water, animal tracks became more frequent. The river, flowing beneath the snow, reflected the sky in patches of striking blue. Lei Jin scooped up a handful—the water was so cold it felt like his teeth would freeze. Xiya and Moya followed the tracks to hunt for fresh game.  

That night, they reached the first snow-capped mountain and found an ice cave halfway up. The entrance was shielded by massive icicles, blocking the wind. A fire was quickly lit.  

Moya took out some cured meat from their packs and roasted it. They had brought plenty of food from home, anticipating potential shortages along the way.  

Lei Jin, completely spent, had already fallen asleep. Mingya changed him into dry clothes by the fire, then hung the wet ones to dry for the next day.  

Xiya cleaned the game outside while Moya melted ice in a small clay pot. Once the water boiled, he wrung out a hot cloth to wipe Lei Jin’s hands, feet, and face.  

The wind howled outside, and soon heavy snow began to fall again, blanketing the ground in white. The roasted meat was brushed clean of ash and cut into chunks, eaten by hand. A pot of fresh mutton stew, seasoned with homemade salted radish, warmed them from the inside out.  

By morning, the snow still hadn’t stopped. Their footprints from the previous day were completely buried. After more than ten days of relentless travel in the freezing cold—and with the air thinning as they climbed higher—Lei Jin finally hit his limit. He managed in the morning, but after their midday rest, his legs wobbled when he stood, nearly sending him face-first into the snow. From then on, Xiya and the others took turns carrying him.  

By the time they reached the third mountain, Lei Jin had adjusted somewhat. The four of them cut down some pine logs and fashioned makeshift skis. Werebeasts had excellent reflexes, and Lei Jin had some prior experience, so they picked it up quickly. After a few tumbles, they were gliding smoothly—far faster than walking, especially downhill.  

At the fifth mountain, Lei Jin lost his patience. How many more of these are there? This isn’t a honeymoon—it’s a survival training camp!

“Are you sure you know where we’re going? What if we took a wrong turn?” There was still no sign of the so-called Sacred Lake.  

“We’re not lost. The Sacred Lake has a unique pull on werebeasts. We can sense it,” Xiya said mysteriously. Lei Jin felt nothing.  

“The Sacred Lake is behind this mountain,” Moya stated firmly.  

“How do you know?” Lei Jin asked.  

“Because our ears are out.” Mingya took off his hat, revealing soft silver-white leopard ears standing upright on his head.  

Lei Jin lunged for Moya’s hat and yanked it off—sure enough, his ears had emerged too.  

Xiya didn’t wait for Lei Jin to pester him and took his own hat off. Lei Jin almost burst out laughing but held back—they were surrounded by snow-capped peaks, and the last thing they needed was an avalanche. “You look just like Pomelo and Orange.” He had only seen the twins in their half-beast forms as children, with ears and tails.  

Xiya corrected him with a sigh, “I’m their father. They’re the ones who look like me.”  

Between the fifth and sixth mountains, thick mist swirled, obscuring everything below in a sea of white.  

“Are we sure this is the place?” Lei Jin asked. When Moya nodded, he followed up, “How do we get down?”  

“According to tribal legends, you just jump,” Xiya answered, completely serious.  

“What? You don’t have wings right now! If there are rocks at the bottom, we’ll die!” He still wanted to live to a hundred. He had four sons waiting for him at home.  

“Wait here. I’ll go down first and check,” Xiya said, stepping forward as the eldest.  

Lei Jin grabbed his arm. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? Let’s think of another way.”  

Moya and Mingya also objected.  

Xiya kissed Lei Jin, left his bag behind, and said to Moya, “Look after Lei Jin and Mingya. It’s fine. I’m just scouting. Dad told us before—it looks dangerous, but it’s actually safe. Everyone in the tribe has done it this way.”  

“If we’re jumping, we jump together,” Lei Jin declared. He couldn’t just watch Xiya take the risk alone.  

“Eldest Brother, let’s listen to Lei Jin,” Moya sided with him. Mingya, gripping Lei Jin’s hand, clearly agreed.  

Once they decided, Xiya and Moya strapped all their luggage to their backs while Mingya carried Lei Jin. They found a protruding rock on the cliff and, after a silent count, leaped together.  

The descent through the mist was disorienting, and the rapid freefall was far from pleasant. Fortunately, it wasn’t too high before they plunged into warm water.  

“Cough—cough—!” Lei Jin crawled out of the water, hacking. Who the hell decided this was the way down? Swallowing a bellyful of water was not fun.  

Moya helped him up.  

“Is this it?” Lei Jin wiped his face and looked around in surprise. Outside, it was the dead of winter, but here, autumn still reigned—trees heavy with fruit, reeds swaying by the water.  

“Probably not. Dad said the only passage to the Sacred Lake is underwater.”  

“Did An Bu mention where the passage is?” Finding a hidden underwater tunnel in such a vast expanse wouldn’t be easy.  

Moya patted his back soothingly. “Dad has never been here. I heard about it from Dad An Sen and Dad An Luo. They only gave general hints. The Sacred Lake’s location shifts slightly over time, and the surroundings change with it. No one can pinpoint the exact spot—werebeasts have to find it themselves. But the underwater passage is a constant.”  

“So this isn’t the place?” Lei Jin glared, on the verge of snapping.  

Moya hurried to reassure him, “Either way, let’s rest here for a day, regain our strength. There’s plenty of food around—we can stock up. And,” he paused, “we’ll need to leave some of our luggage here. We can’t take it to the Sacred Lake.”  

Lei Jin knew what he meant. The place where they’d…? Clothes were the least of their concerns. This was going to be primitive. And direct.  

The four of them dried their clothes by the fire, with Mingya keeping Lei Jin company while Xiya and Moya foraged. Unable to find a good storage spot, they hollowed out a tree trunk and sealed it with resin the next day, leaving their clothes and other supplies inside.  

Then they dove back underwater. Lei Jin and Moya, thanks to the life pearls from Berg and Lan Qi, could breathe almost as easily as on land. Xiya and Mingya struggled more, so Lei Jin pressed close, sharing his air with them.  

The water was dark, save for a faint glow in the east. They swam toward it, passing beneath a mountain range before emerging on the other side. The water here was noticeably warmer. Lei Jin broke the surface first, followed closely by Xiya and the others—now fully transformed into their majestic beast forms.  

The space here was enormous. Lei Jin estimated it would take three to five days to walk the perimeter. Snow crowned the mountaintops, while lush greenery thrived below—thick grass, vibrant flowers, and mist-shrouded hot springs. The “Sacred Lake” was less a single lake and more a network of interconnected thermal pools in varying shades of blue and green. Across from them, countless tiny waterfalls cascaded down the cliffs, fed by melting snow.  

As Lei Jin took in the view, a deep boom echoed underwater. The surface churned with mud and silt. Once it settled, Moya dove down to investigate.  

“The passage is sealed.”  

With towering cliffs on all sides and their only exit closed off, it seemed fate had indeed trapped them in this isolated paradise for a month. Last time, he’d been stranded in a valley for three years. This time, with all three of them by his side, Lei Jin wasn’t worried.  

Now, he was the only human here. For the next month, Xiya and the others would remain in beast form. Lei Jin helped Xiya and Moya unload their packs. He wore nothing but a knee-length snow-silk robe—simple in design, with a loose round collar and two ties at the chest and waist. It felt like a modern bathrobe, just thinner and softer. Now, soaked through, it clung uncomfortably to his skin. He stripped it off and hung it on a branch to dry.  

After giving birth to Apple, he’d worked hard to regain his figure. His flat stomach, slender waist, and long legs still made him undeniably handsome. He had no qualms about flaunting his body in the sunlight.  

Xiya and the others stared, their eyes burning with desire. They had seen, touched, kissed, and entered this body countless times, yet its allure only grew stronger, commanding their every gaze. But now wasn’t the time—they were exhausted.  

A massive cave, likely carved by previous visitors, housed black stone furniture, beds, and a fireplace. A smaller adjacent cave held two hot springs—one large enough for a dozen werebeasts, the other tiny and scalding, likely meant for cooking rather than soaking.  

The first two days were spent resting, soaking, and recovering. The real fun began on the third day.  

That morning, the weather was perfect. Xiya and Mingya napped while Lei Jin lounged with Moya in an outer spring. The water here was shallow, reaching only his chest.  

“Moya?” Lei Jin scooped water over Moya’s head, his fingers pausing mid-scrub.

“En? ” answered Moya softly as he lay on Lei Jin’s chest, licking the cherry red nubs in front of him.

“What are you doing?” Lei Jin twisted his ear, both of them were naked, their lower halves pressed against each other, he naturally noticed Moya’s actions.

Moya did not hide it either, the flexible tip of his tail dipped into the lake water, sweeping over the tender flesh of Lei Jin’s inner thighs, fighting to squeeze into the crease between his buttocks rubbing seductively at the only entrance.

Lei Jin’s body stiffened, his hole subconsciously squeezing to stop the invasion, although not afraid to do it with their beast forms, but their tail was another story.

The black panther snuggled against him with its big head, its thick hot tongue curling into Lei Jin’s belly button.

“Moya, you’re asking for a beating…” Lei Jin opened his mouth to scold, and as a result neglected his defense. The black panther’s wet tail tip all of a sudden stabbed into that small hole that it had been stroking.

“Ngh…” Lei Jin gasped. His hole had been soaked in the hot spring and was a little softer, but it still felt swollen and painful when it was stretched suddenly, and the furry itchy feeling was really uncomfortable.

“Lei Jin, open your legs wider.”

Lei Jin almost fainted from anger. He gritted his teeth and reached out to push him, but he couldn’t push an adult black panther.

The black panther held his round and perky buttocks with its two front paws, lifted it up, and inserted its tail inside again.

“It’s itchy, don’t move, Moya.” Lei Jin raised his head slightly, hugged the black panther’s head and pressed it against his chest.

The huge black panther continued to tease the already hard nipples with his teeth. Copying what Lei Jin did to them a few days ago, he opened his entrance up and continued to press, looking for the spot in his memory that could give Lei Jin ecstasy.

Lei Jin was aroused by this method, and he really didn’t want to admit it, but he was so itchy inside that he couldn’t help but slightly spread his legs. Moya saw the opportunity and before he could catch his breath, he inserted his tail, which had been halfway in, to the bottom, paused for a moment, and then began to thrust violently.

“Ah…” Lei Jin’s waist began to tremble, this strange sensation, this strange way of thrusting, “Get out…”

“But you’re squeezing so tightly.” Moya licked the corner of his mouth and pulled out his tail a little.

The little hole chased over and bit it tightly without letting go.

Moya hooked his waist with his paws and sank heavily to the deepest part.

Lei Jin arched, and the twitching pleasure replaced the initial swelling pain, starting from the vertebrae and spreading up along his spine.

“Second Brother, Lei Jin, you didn’t take a nap?” It was Mingya’s cheerful voice.

“It’s Mingya, Moya, you…get up quickly.” Lei Jin’s gradually confused mind suddenly woke up, and he hurriedly pushed him. He was not afraid of being seen, but this way of intercourse.

Moya pressed on him, holding his buttocks tightly, and suddenly increased the force of his thrusts.

“Ngh…” His hardness was squeezed, and his hole was vigorously plundered. Lei Jin temporarily forgot Mingya and moaned. He saw Mingya’s paws stilling from the corner of his eyes, and then his tail shook before turning away.

“Ah… Moya…” Moya’s tail was pulled out without warning, and replaced by the heavy hardness that was eager to have its own turn. The thick beast size made Lei Jin’s scalp go numb, but at the same time he was also a little eager.

Lei Jin leaned back on the stone by the water, with his legs wide open. In the clear water, Moya lowered his head and could clearly see the small opening twitching and winking eagerly.

“Do you want me?” Moya’s voice was low and dark. He retracted his sharp claws and rubbed and pressed the thick pads at that small hole erotically.

The emptiness inside was unbearable. “Inside me.” Lei Jin ordered in a low voice.

Moya put his head on Lei Jin’s shoulder, twitched his ears, and said, “Say it again, I didn’t hear it clearly.”

Lei Jin glared at him, but laughed instead of getting angry. With this little ability, there was no way he could tease him. He raised one of his long legs and put it on Moya’s shoulder. Then under Moya’s gaze, he slowly inserted his wet index finger into his own hole. He immediately felt Moya’s body tense and his breathing became hotter.

Lei Jin curled his lips and rubbed Moya’s back shoulder with his heels from time to time. Moya moved even closer and with two big paws, spread those round buttocks further.

Two fingers were soon inserted, slightly scissoring and stroking. Feeling a small stream of warm water pouring in, he moaned softly. Moya held him, keeping one leg on his shoulder and leaving one leg bent in the water, and suddenly thrust his hardness inside, bottoming out, leaving him no room to escape.

“Ah…” Lei Jin screamed in pain at the entrance, and hurriedly pulled out his fingers.

With the tail opening him up earlier, Moya entered smoothly, and being squeezed by the tight, hot passage, it was difficult for him to maintain his sanity. His mind became blank, and he wanted to tear the person under him into pieces and eat him into his stomach. The warm water lubricated the way and his thrusts became extremely smooth.

Lei Jin pressed all his weight on the stone behind him, and with Moya’s continuous thrusts, his back was rubbed so sorely that he bit his lips and groaned.

Moya didn’t react at first, and continued to piston with his head down, but soon he noticed Lei Jin’s furrowed brows, and the fingers grabbing onto his forelimbs so tightly that they turned pale, his expression no longer as rapturous as before.

“What’s wrong?” Moya licked the cold sweat on his forehead and forced himself to stop.

“My back hurts, change positions.”

Moya put down his legs and temporarily pulled out his still hard member.

Lei Jin turned around, spread his legs, knelt on the mud and sand at the bottom of the water, and raised his buttocks above the water.

Moya’s body pressed against him, with his front paws on his shoulders, licking his reddened back with a hot tongue, and thrusting into him again.

The beastly member was thicker and longer, and each time it could reach his deepest part. Lei Jin hummed with satisfaction and twisted his waist to meet the thrusts from behind.

“Is it good?” Moya asked while nibbling his ear.

“Yeah, good… Hurry up, Moya… ngh, faster…” His body was getting hotter and hotter, and it was unbearable.

Moya swallowed his saliva and thrust harder, their bodies tightly intertwined.

“Harder, Moya, harder…” Lei Jin was distracted for a moment. He didn’t know what was going on. In this place, it seemed that his desire was particularly strong.

The sound of flesh smacking flesh, mixed with the splashing sound of water, seemed even more obscene in this deserted wilderness.

Moya thrusted several more times before one final hard thrust. At the same time Lei Jin squeezed down, and his insides were instantly painted with hot streaks.

Lei Jin’s legs were numb, and he slipped into the water like he had no limbs. Moya’s member also slid out, and the turbid white liquid flowed out of his softly gaping hole, mixing into the clear water.

Moya’s eyes were deep and unfathomable. He used his front paws to hook Lei Jin up by the waist in a slightly clumsy way, making him lie on the rocks on the shore.

With a squelching sound, he thrust inside once again.

“Moya…” Lei Jin called out softly, his fingers tightly clasping the rock, letting the black panther behind him run wild in his body.

Mingya hurriedly turned out all the bags.

Xiya was in a deep dream, and didn’t want to pay attention to him. He turned over and continued to sleep, but the noise was getting louder and louder. He finally couldn’t stand it anymore, opened his eyes, and asked, “Mingya, what are you looking for?”

“Eldest Brother, where is the jade mugwort we brought?” Mingya was still busy in a pile of bags.

Xiya sat up slightly, pulled the deerskin bag, opened it, and it was full of herbs, “Why are you looking for this suddenly?”

“I want to give it to Lei Jin, he and the Second Brother are outside…” Mingya held the crystal bottle in his mouth, turned around and ran out.

Xiya jumped off the bed and saw the steamy scene next to the hot spring. He raised a foot and stepped on Mingya’s tail.

“Eldest Brother, that hurts…” Mingya pulled his tail, and the bottle in his mouth fell out. He lay on the ground and couldn’t move.

“Mingya, be good, go back with Eldest Brother.”

“But I want to go over there.” His lower half was swollen and uncomfortable.

“No wonder Lei Jin called you a dummy. Don’t forget, this is the most days of the year. We still have a plenty long time here at the Sacred Lake. Are you still afraid that you won’t get a turn? Leave some time alone for them now.”

Mingya saw them change their positions, Lei Jin with his back to them, straddling the waist and abdomen of Second Brother, moaning loudly as he bounced. At the same time, Second Brother grasped his buttocks and spread them wide impaling him again and again.

Xiya covered his eyes with his paws and said, “Let’s go. Lei Jin will be yours later.”

Mingya then picked up the bottle, turned around silently, and went back reluctantly.

Moya carried Lei Jin’s weak body out of the hot spring and put him on the fine sand on the shore.

Lei Jin was exhausted and had no strength left, so he simply lay on his back, panting and taking a rest.

But Moya didn’t intend to let him go just yet. He lifted his legs and spread them apart, carefully examining the slightly swollen small opening in the middle.

Lei Jin struggled and wanted to kick him, “Piss off, let me rest for a while, are you done yet? Do you want to fuck me to death at once?” Didn’t he know how big he was in beast form? How could any normal person take that size so often?

“I think it’s okay here.” Moya pressed that place with the pad of his paw. The residual pleasure had not completely disappeared, causing Lei Jin’s body to tremble, a soft moan slipping out unbidden.

Moya seemed to be encouraged, and lifted Lei Jin’s legs high, folding them back to his chest, while that huge furry body loomed over him again.

“Lei Jin, Lei Jin…” Moya called his name, and kissed him lightly on his chest, collarbone and face like falling raindrops.

Lei Jin scolded, “Don’t act pitiful.” But he couldn’t help but soften a little. He kissed his eyes and wrapped his legs around his waist. The hint was clear. Sure enough, the next moment he felt that hot and thick hardness enter his body again.

“You… ungh…” the black panther’s tongue was rough, and it filled his entire mouth as soon as it slipped in. Lei Jin couldn’t breathe, his body tensed, his hands and feet struggling to break free. But this only caused his passage to tightly squeeze around Moya’s member.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Moya kissed him deeply, and his thrusts lost their rhythm and became more and more chaotic. Only at this moment did he feel that Lei Jin belonged to him, and only to him.

Their bodies were intimately entangled together, and they reached climax at the same time.

When Lei Jin came back to his senses, his first reaction was to raise his hand and slap Moya’s big head. But before he closed his eyes, he said, “I’ll always be here.”

“I know.” Moya licked his sweaty and flushed face affectionately.

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ

Lei Jin had verbally agreed, but inwardly, he had no clue. What needed to be prepared? Where should he even start? He had no idea. He’d seen others hold ceremonies before, and it seemed quite simple—none of the complicated formalities of modern times. It was basically just hosting everyone for a meal and announcing the partnership in front of everyone. But now that it was his turn, he realized it was nothing like that.

“What about your clothes? The things prepared for the room? Roughly how many people will come that day? How much food should we prepare? Where will it be placed? The weather’s so cold now, what if it’s windy or snowing that day…” Roger started listing a slew of questions as soon as he opened his mouth.

Lei Jin’s head spun just hearing it. Was it necessary for a simple ceremony to be so troublesome?

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Moya, sitting beside him, noticed his distracted look. He squeezed Lei Jin’s hand and fed him a piece of the newly learned white rice cake he’d made, filled with a whole wild jujube soaked in fermented rice wine.

“Ivey really has a knack for brewing. These wine-soaked jujubes are delicious,” Lei Jin murmured, squinting contentedly as he slumped lazily against Moya’s shoulder. Ivey had a talent for brewing. Back when the tribe only drank fruit wine, he could already make grain wine. His main ingredient used to be wheat. Now that the tribe’s rice production had increased, he started experimenting with rice wine. Wheat wine had a mellow taste, while rice wine was softer and sweeter. Overall, both were quite good. Feeling a craving to try himself, Lei Jin had asked Ivey for the method and a packet of yeast. After several failed attempts, he used the leftover yeast to make two jars of soybean paste instead.

After finishing one piece, Lei Jin opened his mouth again. Moya smiled faintly, picked up another piece, and fed it to him. “If someone said Apple wasn’t your child, no one would believe it,” he teased. “This lazy demeanor is exactly the same.”

“Don’t bring him up with me,” Lei Jin groaned, feeling a vein throb on his forehead at the thought of that chubby Apple. The vexing child couldn’t even stand, let alone walk. Rolling was his only mode of transportation. He wasn’t a ball, but if he kept eating like this, he’d soon resemble one. “Actually, Apple is quite well-behaved. He doesn’t cry or fuss,” Mingya bit his lower lip, hesitating before deciding to defend his son. Apple just ate and slept a lot, but otherwise, there was nothing wrong with him.

Lei Jin pressed his hands against Mingya’s face, rubbing it playfully. “Of course the dummy would speak up for his little dummy son,” he laughed.

Mingya tried to argue again, “Mingya is not a du— Mmph…” His words were cut off as Lei Jin squished his face.

“Alright, alright, we’re discussing serious matters here, you three…” Xiya rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. None of the four of them understood anything about the ceremony, and there was always Lei Jin who disrupted the discussions halfway through. He was starting to suspect Lei Jin was deliberately trying to avoid holding the ceremony.

Sure enough, the next moment, Lei Jin spoke up, “How about… we just skip the ceremony?” After all, everyone in the tribe knew about their relationship. Did the ceremony really make that much difference?

“No.” This time, the three brothers were unanimous.

“Just a thought,” Lei Jin stretched lazily. At this point, it was too late to back out. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he sat up straight. “Roger, how about we do it ‘self-serve’ style?” He said something only Roger would understand.

“What do you mean by ‘self-serve’?” Roger asked, unsure what scheme Lei Jin had cooked up now.

“Do you remember the fried meat we sold at the tribal market three years ago?”

“You mean letting a bunch of people gather around an oil pot and fry their own food?” Xiya asked, then immediately shook his head in negation. “That won’t work. Life in the tribe is much better than before. Back then, cooking was either roasting or boiling, and an occasional fried meat dish felt like a rare delicacy. Doing that now would be too simplistic.” Holding a ceremony was a very important event in the tribe. Lei Jin was their most beloved person, so this ceremony had to be prepared meticulously.

“This time, we won’t fry; we’ll boil.”

After listening to Lei Jin’s explanation, everyone agreed his idea was excellent. The food situation was settled. Next came the miscellaneous details. Clothes? Xiya and the others were easy—they could wear the outfits from their coming-of-age ceremonies, as was tribal tradition. Any minor alterations needed could be done easily. As for Lei Jin, it was even simpler. He had plenty of new clothes; he could just pick one. There weren’t strict rules about this, as long as it was new. For families that could afford it, they would prepare a snow-silk robe for the female partner to wear at the Sacred Lake. Regardless of how many ceremonies a female partner might hold in their lifetime, this silk robe was only worn for the very first one.

Snow-silk was incredibly soft and precious. From collecting the cocoons, reeling the silk, to making a single robe, even a skilled female craftsperson would need at least three to four months. And there weren’t many in the tribe who possessed this skill. Back when Roger held his ceremony, due to the rush, there hadn’t been a snow-silk robe.

“There’s not enough time,” Xiya said, resting his chin on his left hand, his brow furrowed with frustration.

“What does it matter? I’m not particular about that,” Lei Jin dismissed. It was just a silk robe. It wasn’t like he’d never worn one before.

“Xia Wei’s grandpa promised to make one for Lei Jin. It should be almost finished,” Moya interjected.

“Second Brother, so clever!” Mingya understood and cheered.

Xiya clasped his hands, a sudden realization dawning. “How could I forget Xia Wei’s grandpa? He’s the most skilled craftsman in our tribe!”

Lei Jin nudged Moya’s stomach with his elbow. Since when did you become so sly? You secretly arranged this?

Moya grabbed his arm and pulled him into his embrace. Stop poking, it’s uncomfortable after just eating. Xia Wei’s grandpa was getting older, and his eyesight wasn’t what it used to be. He rarely worked with his own hands anymore, mostly leaving it to Xia Wei’s papa. But upon hearing Moya was holding his ceremony, the old man was delighted and offered to personally make a robe for his female partner.

“No need to worry about the colorful felt rug either. I prepared it long ago,” Roger said, looking relaxed. He’d finally waited for this day. Seeing Xiya and the others get married with his own eyes made staying behind back then worthwhile. Though he hadn’t expected the three brothers to share one partner, as long as they were happy, it was fine. Besides, he genuinely liked Lei Jin—there was nothing wrong with the man. For each of his children, after they came of age, he had commissioned a bright red rug from tribal artisans, saving it for their ceremony day.

The rugs had been made many years ago, especially Xiya’s, which was nearly a decade old. But Roger had stored them sealed and well-preserved. Taken out of the cabinet, they still looked vibrant and new, woven with red and gold threads—gaudy yet festive.

Everything was ready. The priest divined an auspicious date: the first day of the sixteenth month. Less than two months remained until the end of the fifth year. Finally, the day arrived for Lei Jin, Xiya, Moya, and Mingya to hold their ceremony.

The house bustled with activity before dawn. The morning sky was overcast, and everyone feared snow, working faster. Many females from the tribe helped with cooking and decorating the rooms, led by Mura, Zhu Xi, and Su Rui. Lei Jin, clueless about these things, simply let them turn the rooms into a riot of colorful decorations. The werebeasts arrived too, many carrying tables, chairs, benches, and pots. After setting them down, they immediately started chopping firewood, fetching water, and mincing meat.

“Watch your little brother. And don’t run around,” Lei Jin instructed in the children’s room. Apple, oblivious to everything, was still fast asleep. Grapes, Pomelo, and Orange were already awake. Lei Jin brought them breakfast: white rice topped with a thick layer of cured meat and a large bowl of shredded chicken tofu soup.

Grapes, now over five years old, roughly understood the significance of the day. He clenched his little fist. “Daddy, I’ll watch Apple and make sure he doesn’t roll out of sight!”

Pomelo and Orange blinked their identical violet eyes and chorused, “Ol’ Dad, we’ll listen to Eldest Brother!”

“Hurry and eat before it gets cold,” Lei Jin patted their big heads, a rare flash of paternal affection surfacing. These were his children. He’d never dreamed such a day would come in his past life.

Pomelo and Orange touched the tips of their tails together, silently thinking, Ol’ Dad really isn’t normal today. He’s usually all about force; suddenly being so gentle is weird.

Traditionally, those holding the ceremony had to bathe in the morning. The water was infused with strangely scented leaves and small brown fruits. After the bath, they changed into the prepared clothes. Coming-of-age ceremonies were in autumn, so Xiya and the others’ outfits were a bit thin for this season.

“Put another layer on,” Lei Jin said, feeling Mingya’s sleeve.

“It’s fine. We’ll be back soon after returning from the temple,” Moya reassured him, wrapping a thick scarf around Lei Jin and fastening his hat securely against the wind.

By noon, when they headed to the temple, the sun had emerged. The old priest waited at the entrance, holding a wooden tray. Xiya and the others stepped forward and reverently placed their bone knives, made from saber-toothed tiger bones, upon it. No one spoke during this; a solemn silence filled the air. Lei Jin, affected by the atmosphere, set aside his usual casual demeanor and became uncharacteristically serious and focused.

This was Lei Jin’s second time entering the temple. The first was during Mingya’s coming-of-age ceremony, and he hadn’t had time to look around. This path was clearly different from the last one. The corridor windows were open, letting in crisp air. The old priest walked slowly ahead, leading them up a sloping path. They finally entered a large, mostly empty space. Facing south, bathed in sunlight, stood two enormous stone statues, their features indistinct against the light.

The bone knives were placed on the altar before them. The old priest placed a hand over his heart, bowed, and recited a long passage. Lei Jin didn’t understand a word, simply mimicking Xiya and the others’ actions. Finally, the old priest returned the knives to Xiya and his brothers.

Lei Jin knew these were meant for him and automatically held out his hand. But Xiya didn’t give it to him. Instead, he drew the knife across his own wrist. Blood welled up instantly.

“You—” Lei Jin started to protest, but Xiya’s look stopped him.

The old priest stood to the side, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

Xiya pressed his bleeding wrist to Lei Jin’s lips. “Drink a little,” he implored softly.

This wasn’t part of the plan! Lei Jin was confused, unsure what was happening. Now wasn’t the time for questions. He lowered his head and sucked gently. Xiya’s lips curved into a pleased smile. He kissed Lei Jin’s forehead and stepped back. Next came Moya, then Mingya, each repeating the ritual.

The temple ceremony concluded. As the old priest saw them out, he pulled Lei Jin aside. “What did you think of the ceremony just now?”

“Their blood tasted awful,” Lei Jin leaned casually on the old priest’s shoulder, no trace of formality. “You could’ve warned me beforehand.” The metallic taste still lingered in his mouth.

“It seems you truly know nothing?” The old priest chuckled. With Lei Jin, he shed his sacred aura completely, becoming just a kindly old man.

“What am I supposed to know?” Lei Jin raised an eyebrow dismissively.

“You should know that in werebeast tribes, unless accidents happen, werebeasts generally live much longer than females.”

Lei Jin nodded. He knew that. The females’ constitutions weren’t as robust. But what did that have to do with today’s ceremony?

“Just now, before the gods, those three swore an oath. They vowed they would accompany you at all times.”

Lei Jin’s heart jolted violently. It took him a long moment to find his voice. “Are you saying… if I die one day, all three of them will follow me to death? Is that the meaning?”

“You child! Today is a joyous day for your ceremony, talking about death!” the old priest chided gently. “But… essentially, yes. How do you feel now? Quite moved, I imagine?” Most females would be in tears by now.

Lei Jin flexed his wrist and sighed. “As such an important person, I suppose I really should live to be a hundred.”

Stunned speechless, the old priest stared at him—this was a first.

“You should come to our place for lunch, old man. We made a lot of good food,” Lei Jin said. He touched his cheek—it didn’t feel unusually warm. He jogged towards Xiya and the others, who were watching him expectantly.

The wind on the grassland was mild that day. Iron pots and ceramic pots were lined up, bubbling with thick, milky-white bone broth, rich and fragrant. Some pots held generous handfuls of chili peppers, turning the broth fiery red. Platters of sliced meats, dried bamboo shoots, tofu, bean sprouts, cabbage, radish, and wild yam were brought out. Freshly fried chili oil, freshly ground sesame paste, peanut butter, whole jars of fermented tofu paste, and leek flower sauce were set out. Many females, already familiar with the method from Lei Jin, demonstrated to the werebeasts: pick what you like and cook it yourself—free and unrestrained. Given the season, it couldn’t be truly warm, but gathered around the spicy broth on a winter day, everyone ate until they felt warm from the inside out, silently resolving to try this at home.

Chunji and Tian Qi arrived in the afternoon. A group of females was chatting with Lei Jin, each holding a small bowl of sweet peanut glutinous rice balls. Seeing the newcomers, the group subtly shifted away, seeming slightly uncomfortable.

“Took you long enough! Didn’t want to help with the work, so you hid from me?” Lei Jin reached out to support Tian Qi, who batted his hand away.

“I’m still strong! Don’t treat me like an old man.”

Could you be any more stubborn? Lei Jin silently complained about the old man.

“For you,” Chunji handed him a large bundle of bright red flowers. Each petal was encased in a layer of transparent ice crystals, looking fresh and dewy.

“What beautiful Snowfrost Blossoms!” exclaimed a nearby female who recognized them.

Lei Jin, never one for aesthetics, simply found a wide-mouthed water jar, stuffed the flowers in, and placed it on the windowsill. Sensing the awkwardness, he told the others to make themselves at home and excused himself, saying he needed to check on the children. He led Chunji and Tian Qi to another room.

The children were all napping. Tian Qi removed the black cloth covering his face, revealing the many scars that obscured his original features. Lei Jin had seen his face before but felt no particular curiosity.

“How’s Apple doing lately?” Tian Qi sat on the edge of the bed, feeling Apple’s small frame from head to toe.

“We’re controlling his portions. Only letting him eat a little at a time, then giving him more when he’s hungry again.”

“That’s the right approach. Cutting back drastically wouldn’t be good either.”

Roger, hearing Chunji and Tian Qi had arrived, brought over two large bowls of the peanut rice balls.

Chunji nodded in greeting.

“Didn’t you have something to ask them?” Tian Qi prompted.

The filling inside the rice balls was scalding hot. Chunji stuck out his tongue, took a sip of warm water, then composed himself. “Since you’re both here, I wanted to ask you a question. Are you both willing to stay now? Wholeheartedly?”

Hearing a noise outside the window, Roger looked up just in time to see An Bu walking past carrying a bucket of hot water. He pressed his lips together and didn’t speak. This question was twenty years too late for him; it held no meaning anymore.

“What’s this about, Chunji? Today’s my ceremony! Are you seriously telling me now that I can go back to the modern world? If that’s true, I wouldn’t mind popping back for a visit! Got any good methods? Spill it.” Without a choice, his resolve was firm. But the lure of the modern world was strong; he wouldn’t mind an occasional trip back if possible.

Chunji looked deeply at them both, then bared his teeth in a smile. “I was just kidding.” Roger and Lei Jin had already given him their answers. It might not have been a beautiful beginning, but he hoped they could have a happy process and ending.

This was the mission their predecessors had left them. When he died, the Door of Time would close permanently. There would be no more crossers. Let that distant history be completely buried. Chunji lowered his head, avoiding Roger’s searching gaze.

The grassland temperature dropped sharply at night, but blazing torches lit up half the sky. Large chunks of roasted meat, bowls full of grape wine… Many werebeasts were limbering up, eager to try. There was an unwritten rule in the tribe: before the newly mated couple entered their room, any werebeasts wishing to make a final bid could issue a challenge—provided the female agreed.

Lei Jin was magnanimous, accepting every challenger. This put Xiya and the others through their paces, forced to face wave after wave of opponents. Everyone knew, deep down, that most were just joining the fun. Few would seriously try to snatch someone away during their ceremony.

After a day of hard work and festivities lasting until midnight, the crowd gradually dispersed. Lei Jin plunged into a hot bath. Coming out, he saw Xiya, Moya, and Mingya sprawled haphazardly across the bed. The large crimson rug beneath them made all three look exceptionally handsome and… delicious.

Lei Jin’s lust surged. This was his wedding night. These were his wives. If he didn’t spoil them, who would?

“Lei Jin, what are you doing?” Mingya gasped, the weight on his chest making it hard to breathe. He forced his eyes open to see Lei Jin fumbling with his clothes.

Lei Jin patted his butt. “Tonight, I’m doing it.” It had been years since he’d been on top, but his skill at undressing people hadn’t rusted. Maybe it was innate talent?

Mingya’s remaining drowsiness vanished instantly. “T-tonight?” he stammered. He wasn’t opposed, just… scared.

Lei Jin lifted his chin and kissed his lips. “Relax. My technique is excellent. Much better than you lot charging in like bulls. I guarantee I’ll make you feel good.”

Good technique or not, Lei Jin was determined. Mingya squeezed his eyes shut, spread his limbs wide, and steeled himself. “Go ahead. Mingya isn’t afraid of pain.”

Lei Jin laughed at his martyrdom. Starting with Mingya was clearly the smoother path. He fetched the jade mugwort lubricant from the cabinet.

Xiya’s long leg hooked around Lei Jin’s ankle as he jumped onto the bed. Lei Jin lost his balance and landed squarely on top of him.

“Don’t forget, you promised me too,” Lei Jin pinched Xiya’s cheek. He wasn’t getting out of this.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Xiya’s response was to pull off his own belt and toss it off the bed. He grasped Lei Jin’s member, smiling lazily yet seductively. “The first time… is mine.” If he couldn’t be the first there, he would claim the first time here.

Their commotion woke Moya. His green eyes were foggy and unfocused at first. Lei Jin leaned in and planted a firm kiss on his lips. Moya took in the scene before him and offered no objection.

A chaotic night passed. The four of them slept until noon the next day. As for what exactly happened that night, none of them ever spoke of it again.

About half a month after the ceremony, Lei Jin and the others set out for the Sacred Lake.

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ

Opening Day dawned with a rare patch of winter warmth. The sky was a clear, translucent blue, the sunlight gentle and lazy. Even the wind carried an indescribable hint of tenderness.

Lei Jin was awakened by the crackling sound of bamboo being burned throughout the tribe, inside and out.

“It feels like spring,” Lei Jin mused lazily as he jogged along the stream for his morning run.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

In the grass shelter, a gazelle raised its head lethargically, surveying the still withered, sprawling grassland. Seeing hardly any familiar faces, it flicked its small tail and went back to chewing the rather tasteless dry grass and radish tops. The wind last night had been so gentle it had lulled the gazelle into dreaming of spring. Before the dream could finish, today’s reality ruthlessly shattered it. Filled with melancholy, it began to long for the days when green grass grew everywhere.

The morning sacrificial ceremony was held deep within the tribe’s refuge cave. The ground and stone walls were damp, glistening with layers of condensation. The old priest’s chanting echoed emptily in the vast cavern, reverberating until ears buzzed.

Xiya, Moya, and seven other werebeasts stood respectfully behind the old priest, heads bowed solemnly. They had been chosen from among the werebeasts who had brought in the most game that year. Merely standing in that position was an immense honor.

The ritual was long and intricate. Lei Jin, concealed within the crowd, silently stifled a yawn behind his hand. He straightened slightly, his gaze drifting to Moya standing at the very edge. His expression was cool, long lashes half-lowered. Even after four years of knowing him, he still maintained this aloof, seemingly ascetic, unapproachable demeanor in public. Yet, it was undeniably attractive.

Suddenly, the old priest’s voice rose sharply. Responding cries surged from below. Before Lei Jin could clearly see what was happening, wave after wave of sacrificial offerings were being thrown far out.

“May our families be safe and sound in the coming year.” Everyone chanted this phrase as they emerged from the cave.

“I heard the sacrificial offerings thrown down in the past were the young, strong werebeasts chosen to stand there,” Roger remarked abruptly as they descended the mountain path.

“Oh,” Lei Jin responded, rubbing the bridge of his nose. What happened in the past was irrelevant; as long as it wasn’t happening now, it was fine. He had no interest in the bloody history Roger studied.

“Uncle Roger, don’t scare us like that, it sends chills down my spine,” Mura, who was walking with them, protested.

“Alright, alright, I won’t say anymore,” Roger relented. “Mura, come to our place for dumplings today. We made a lot.”

Mura hesitated. “Lunch probably won’t work. Dad is coming over. Papa has already gone home early to cook.”

Roger smiled and didn’t press further.

Back home, they stoked the brazier and boiled water for the dumplings. The dumplings had been wrapped early that morning: lamb with a bit of onion, pork with chives, and mushroom, cabbage, and tofu mixed together. The meat was pounded by hand, forming plump, rounded fillings with a better chew than knife-chopped mince. There were also some sugar dumplings for the little ones, pinched by Mingya into various strange shapes, making them easy to spot.

The dipping sauces were simple: one dish of mashed garlic with vinegar, another of fried dried chilies. They stir-fried a few more dishes. It wasn’t an extravagant spread, but Lei Jin was back, Pomelo and Orange were home, and the rest of the family was safe and sound. What could be better than that? The family gathered around the table; the steaming hot dumplings were delicious.

After lunch, they cleared the table and set out large bowls of peanuts, melon seeds, walnut candy, and honeyed fruits. Soon, visitors arrived for the New Year calls.

The werebeasts swapped tales of hunting adventures, while the females discussed this year’s harvest. Moya even boiled a pot of chestnuts, steaming hot.

Seizing a rare moment of leisure, Lei Jin’s lazy bones took over. He half-reclined against the waist-high windowsill – he had a particular fondness for window sills.

“Did you go see the old priest?” Roger asked suddenly. The abrupt pronouncement about the spirits’ will at the ceremony’s end – cherishing their forests and grasslands – had nearly made him laugh out loud. Even the spirits were keeping up with the times! In the entire tribe, besides Lei Jin, he couldn’t think of a second person bold enough to co-opt the spirits. This kind of unorthodox yet unexpectedly practical method was classic Lei Jin.

“The old priest likes me quite a lot,” Lei Jin replied. The old priest was a sensible man; otherwise, he wouldn’t have cooperated. The sound of children’s laughter and play in the yard softened the momentary coldness that flickered in Lei Jin’s eyes. Within reason, he didn’t mind lending a hand. But for those stubbornly seeking their own destruction, he had no interest. However, since Xiya and the others wanted to protect their home, he would help.

“Yes, yes, everyone loves you,” Roger echoed, the phrase sounding strangely familiar. He paused slightly, then resumed grinding a piece of charcoal in his hand, making a few small adjustments to the nearly finished blueprint.

Werebeasts were naturally combative. Even as youngsters, they’d spar whenever they got together. But Bubbles stayed aloof from these contests, just standing under the eaves with his hands tucked into his sleeves, smiling as he watched Grapes.

Pomelo and Orange, though softer with their older brothers at home, weren’t pushovers outside. Blindly trusting their ol dad’s earnest advice, they often ganged up two against one. Few of the slightly older kids could handle them.

“It looked like the weather was turning when we had lunch. The wind must be picking up. Don’t let the children catch cold, bring them inside to play,” Moya suggested. The wind chime he’d made himself, with its clattering pottery and wood pieces, sounded louder now.

“It’s fine, let them be,” Lei Jin replied. Though he adored his children, he didn’t want to coddle them. A bit of roughhousing was good for them.

The evening bonfire was the main event, though the ceremony itself was relatively simple. The werebeasts who had stood with the priest that morning lit the bonfire structure together. Bamboo branches were thrown into the flames, crackling loudly like firecrackers. The clan leader led everyone, holding bowls of water collected from the snowy mountains, circling the bonfire twice before sprinkling the water on the steps of the shrine, praying for favorable weather in the coming year.

After that, it was free rein: drinking, roasting meat, singing, dancing. The temperature dropped at night, but everyone was having too much fun to care. Xiya and the others, mindful of Lei Jin’s current condition and the little ones, didn’t dare stay long. After eating some roasted meat and bidding farewell to the crowd, they headed home.

“It might snow heavily tomorrow,” An Luo remarked on the way back.

By midnight, the wind had grown fierce, rattling the windows.

Lei Jin stirred. Moya woke instantly, his eyes gleaming in the dark. “Are you cold?”

“No, just can’t sleep.” The newly made cotton quilt was thick and warm. They had plenty of cotton left; they could make many more things next year.

Lei Jin slept naked year-round. Moya slid a hand beneath the covers. The baby was only a little over a month old; Lei Jin’s waistline was still taut and beautiful. “During the ceremony today, why were you staring at me?” Lei Jin’s scorching gaze had made it difficult for him to maintain his composure on the altar.

Lei Jin chuckled, pulling Moya closer to snuggle. Today really feels like a proper reunion New Year, he thought.

The next morning, the sky was leaden. Before noon, a blizzard struck. The north wind whipped up vast clouds of dead grass and snowflakes, pelting down.

Inside, the charcoal fire blazed warmly. A small earthenware pot simmered with sugar pears; the water was boiling, bubbling vigorously. Pomelo and Orange sat at the table, tails wagging as they practiced writing – crooked numbers one through ten, looking like scribbles. Grapes was showing Bubbles the medicinal herbs he’d gathered all autumn.

Meanwhile, the four fathers, led by Lei Jin, were gathered around the bed, enthusiastically engaged in… a card game of “Turtle” – stripping off clothes as penalties. Xiya had the worst luck; wrapped in a quilt, he was down to just his shorts. Moya wasn’t much better, stripped to the waist. Lei Jin fared slightly better, still in his underclothes. As for Mingya, his luck was infuriatingly good; he hadn’t lost once.

“Nine out of ten of those are useless weeds,” Lei Jin commented offhandedly, glancing at the four little ones. He knew Grapes’ little collection all too well.

The final round ended in Xiya’s utter defeat. The other three pounced, stripping him completely naked, while the four little ones cheered them on.

Ah, how fulfilling this family’s life was!

Before dusk, darkness had fallen completely. The blizzard showed no sign of stopping. The sound of tree branches snapping under the weight of snow echoed constantly from the yard – crack, crack, crack.

“The door’s blocked by snow, I can’t push it open,” Lei Jin said after several attempts. The door didn’t budge.

“Let me try,” Mingya offered, finishing the last of his sugar-pear water and wiping his mouth as he ran over.

“Don’t you dare move! I’ll climb out the window and shovel the snow first,” Lei Jin ordered. With Mingya’s brute strength and lack of finesse, there was a real risk he’d smash the door down. The thought of that happening in such a blizzard was unthinkable.

Lei Jin climbed out the window. His feet sank half a foot into the snow the moment they touched the ground. Outside was a vast expanse of white; the snow was falling heavily. A cold gust made him tighten his collar and shiver. He found the stone shovel leaning against the wall. He’d only shoveled a few strokes when he sensed something odd. Beneath the snow, something stirred – neat rows of small flames flickered, as if something was slowly awakening.

Even Lei Jin, as bold as he was, was startled by this bizarre sight and took a step back.

One, two, three…

“What’s wrong, Lei Jin?” Mingya, unable to relax, had followed him out the window.

“Mingya, I’m back!” A small white creature adorned with three small flames cried out joyfully as it leaped from the snow, lunging straight for Mingya. A slightly larger one nearby launched itself into the air, delivering a swift kick. The little fox tumbled head over heels through the air before landing back on the ground, spraying snow everywhere.

“Our Number Eleven is immature,” the leading white Phantom Fox nodded in apology. Five others of varying sizes followed behind him.

“Third Brother…” The little fox crawled back mournfully and lined up obediently at the end.

Phantom Foxes were wild and untamed. The little fox had always come and gone from their home as it pleased, and no one paid much attention to its whereabouts. But this time, it seemed the entire family intended to relocate and settle here permanently.

After forty-five days of the Moon Sacrifice Festival, spring arrived as promised in the fifth year. Ice and snow melted, migratory birds flew north, and the grasslands bustled with life once more. The tribal market hadn’t started yet. After the busy spring planting, everyone had some free time. The materials for Lei Jin’s family’s new house were all ready this time, so construction began quickly and progressed well.

Close friends like Qi Luo, Ivey, and Mura’s families naturally pitched in daily, dedicating their time. Jia He found some skilled, familiar carpenters. Lei Jin had dealt with stonemasons before, so communication was easy. Plus, their family had good standing in the tribe, so many people came to help, one way or another.

Xiya and the others were busy leading the work crew every day, but Lei Jin wasn’t idle either. Heavy labor like moving stones, carrying mud, or hoisting beams wasn’t for him, but he ensured the logistics – the meals – were perfectly handled: generous chunks of meat, large plates of vegetables, all rich and hearty.

Roger was truly invested this time. Not only had he consulted Lei Jin beforehand and drawn up blueprints, but he was also on-site daily, overseeing the progress. Lei Jin didn’t understand everything Roger said, mostly just assisting him.

After three months, by late spring/early summer, the house was finally complete. The tribal market and the hunting season had happened intermittently during this time, so it wasn’t like they’d had nothing else to do. Kun Ge and Le Ping had visited but couldn’t be properly hosted, so Lei Jin promised they could stay next year.

The house boasted seven spacious rooms. There were also two wing rooms on the east and west sides. Unlike the popular pig pens and chicken coops of the time, they didn’t have any. They had agreed to take over Ivey’s shop and wouldn’t have time to raise livestock. Besides, neither Lei Jin nor Roger had the patience for it.

Of the seven rooms, one served as the main hall. The remaining six: one was reserved for An Bu, one for the children, and the other four. Lei Jin suggested one room each for the four of them. Xiya smiled noncommittally. Moya pressed his lips together and said nothing. Mingya acted like he hadn’t heard.

As Lei Jin had requested, the windows were much larger than usual. Jia He’s craftsmanship showed in the fine lattice wooden frames, set with clean, translucent crystal panes. Inside, a half-meter-wide windowsill ran along the wall. At midday, when the sun was strong, the entire room filled with bright, warm light. Because the grasslands were windy, an additional set of shutters was installed outside. The floors and interior walls were clad in wooden planks. The timber, felled from tall trees deep in the mountains, was hard and durable. Polished smooth, it gleamed faintly. Jia He said wood like this wouldn’t rot even soaked in water. Heating ducts were dug beneath the house to solve the winter heating problem. Roger had initially wanted a fireplace in the main hall, but considering all the wood and the young children, he eventually gave up. The house was situated on a gentle slope. On the south side, a spacious wooden veranda was built about two feet off the ground, furnished with tables and chairs – perfect for admiring the vast grassland scenery, sipping tea, and enjoying the cool breeze in summer. Beneath the veranda was the den settled by the fox family.

The two west wing rooms: one was used for storage, the other designated as a kitchen. However, the family didn’t plan to cook separately; meals would still be prepared at Roger’s place. This room only had a stove, mainly for heating water. Roger had also commissioned a large, sealed baking oven, hoping for a stroke of culinary inspiration someday to bake cakes or bread. Thinking of Roger’s cooking skills, Lei Jin chuckled inwardly but outwardly humored him. It was good for people to have aspirations; he wouldn’t dampen his enthusiasm.

The two east wing rooms were tidied up, each furnished with a bed. They held miscellaneous items normally but could be quickly cleared to serve as guest rooms when needed.

Between the house and the stream, digging for soil had created a large pit. Xiya and the others later landscaped it, and Lei Jin used it to plant lotus roots. The lotus seeds had been sprouted earlier; now it was just a matter of transplanting them.

After letting the house air out for half a month, the furniture Jia He had been making arrived piece by piece. Besides the usual beds, tables, chairs, stools, and wardrobes, there were also simple recliners, shelving units, and lamp stands for displaying pearls.

By the time everything was settled and ready to move in, summer was already half over. Lan Qi visited during this time and took away Bubbles, who had run away from home half a year prior. Lei Jin entered the ninth month of his pregnancy, but the baby showed no sign of arriving, terrifying the whole family. After all, werebeasts gestated for about eight months, females for nine. Tian Qi, after taking his pulse, only assured them the baby was fine but had no solution for how to get it out. Lei Jin, however, could eat, drink, and sleep normally; aside from his large belly, he felt fine. This baby was even quieter than Grapes had been. In nearly ten months inside him, it had moved only a handful of times, starting around six months. At first, Qing Qiao the healer had suspected it might be stillborn.

Summer faded into autumn. The pond echoed with the croaking of frogs, its waters a deep, melting green. Finally, in the tenth month, the baby was born. This time, Xiya and the other two were all present for the birth. The process was smooth. The baby had sparse, silvery-white hair. In the blink of an eye, it shrank into a silvery-white furball. Lei Jin, conscious this time, watched his baby werebeast’s first transformation with fascination. But the baby didn’t cry. Healer Qing Qiao patted its bottom a few times. It opened its mouth, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief – only for it to just yawn, wrap its chubby paws around its head, and fall back asleep.

He ate everything. Within a month, he had visibly grown larger. He still slept most of the time but had mastered rolling quite effectively. If the family wasn’t careful, he would curl into a ball and roll thump-thump-thump to all corners of the house. Scenes of the whole family frantically searching every nook and cranny for the baby became commonplace. Once, with great patience and persistence, he rolled off the bed, out of the room, off the veranda, into the yard, and nearly drowned in the pond. Luckily, one of the fox brothers was quick enough to drag him back.

Scared half to death, Lei Jin resorted to tying a cloth strap around his belly. The three older children were endlessly curious about this baby brother who only slept, often pulling his ears or nibbling his tail. Perhaps because of their similar fur color, the little foxes also adored him. On fine days, they would often carry him outside to sunbathe.

“Baby, time to eat!” Whenever Lei Jin said this, he would immediately flip onto his back, mouth wide open, looking ready to swallow the bowl whole.

At first, Lei Jin was utterly charmed by this chubby, eating-and-sleeping ball. He insisted on cradling him against his chest every night. His fur was fine and soft, carrying a milky scent. His four little paws were plump and meaty; even if he scratched, it didn’t hurt. When hungry or needing to relieve himself, he would extend a damp little tongue to lick Lei Jin’s chin – though it was usually hunger. When he was hungry, Lei Jin fed him. Just like that, two months flew by. The little one grew increasingly large. Lei Jin’s arms ached carrying him outside. Eventually, he had to resort to carrying him slung over his shoulder. The tribe’s females saw this and were envious, praising Lei Jin’s fourth baby, saying he was bigger at two months than others’ babies at six months. Carefree as ever, Lei Jin basked in the pride for quite a while. Though this was his third time as a father, Lei Jin wasn’t naturally attentive or gentle. For babies, he only knew to feed them when hungry and let them sleep when tired. Eating and sleeping well meant a healthy baby. Roger, however, thought more deeply. The fourth baby growing so fast was abnormal; maybe there was an underlying issue? When Chunji returned from herb gathering and saw the baby, he was also alarmed. Though he found nothing wrong, he advised Lei Jin to feed him less.

Following Lei Jin’s naming style, Roger suggested “Apple”, symbolizing peace and safety in both Eastern and Western cultures, hoping this extraordinary baby would grow up safely. Apple it was. Lei Jin scratched the plump Apple drooling on his shoulder, and the name was settled.

Just feed him less, Lei Jin thought, simple enough. He let him fuss for the first couple of days, assuming he would adjust. But Apple kept it up for over half a month without stopping. When hungry, he would keep his mouth open wide for a long time, waiting in vain for his father to deliver food. First, he would make short “gurgle” sounds, meaning “I’m hungry, feed me!” If ignored, he would stiffen his tail, holding it straight up and wagging it vigorously left and right, trying to attract attention. When all that failed, he deployed his trump card: rolling. Sniffing out where people were, he would roll towards them. For this baby’s sake, Moya had already wrapped layers of rope and animal hide around the legs of all the tables and chairs in the room and laid thick rugs over the wooden floors.

The door was closed. Lei Jin ignored Apple rolling around like a top and continued to laze on the windowsill, enjoying the autumn sun. This half-meter-wide built-in windowsill was Lei Jin’s specific request. He often napped there, sun warming him, breeze blowing – pure bliss.

Apple rolled faster and faster. Lei Jin felt a pang of guilt, but he’d only fed him an hour ago, and for other reasons, he couldn’t indulge him this time. Baby werebeasts usually opened their eyes after a month or so, then gradually learned to walk. The fastest took less than a month; the slowest never exceeded two months. But Apple was nearly three months old and hadn’t opened even one eye! They didn’t even know his eye color! Though there was an 80% chance it was Mingya’s azure blue, he should at least open them! Steeling himself, Lei Jin continued to ignore him.

Just then, the door was pushed open by an almost imperceptible crack. Lei Jin pretended not to see Phantom Fox Number Eleven darting in. Apple’s commotion above – the sensitive Phantom Foxes living beneath the house couldn’t miss it. They adored this silvery-white, gluttonous baby. Eleven had a long string of white milk-fruit around its neck. With a flick of its sharp hunting claw, one milk-fruit landed in Apple’s mouth. The fruit had thin skin and juicy flesh; Apple’s tender gums could easily break it. He smacked his lips, sucking the juice contentedly.

As backup, a lookout perched in the tree outside. The crow, rubbing its wings, started nagging Lei Jin again: “I want a fur hat! The northeast wind every year gives me a headache! A headache!”

Outside, on the pear tree, Mingya was helping the crow arrange a spacious, comfortable nest. The crow (whom Lei Jin had named “Little Black”) clearly intended to stick around. Little Black’s friends, the family of four swallows nesting under the eaves, were collectively known as “the Little Blues.”

It had been autumn for three months now. The swallow family, the Little Blues, were packing up, ready to migrate south at any moment. Little Black the crow didn’t want to spend winter alone. Hearing that Lei Jin’s family planned to go to the Sacred Lake for winter, it wanted to tag along. Hence, its desire for a warm hat.

How could there be such clever, human-like birds? The crow pecked at the feathers on its chest, quite pleased with its own intelligence.

Number Eleven finished feeding the milk-fruit and slipped out as silently as it had entered. Apple, not realizing it was over, opened its mouth again. When nothing dropped in, it began rolling in search of its next target.

Lei Jin pulled out the leather-strap slingshot beside him and silently aimed it at the crow’s head.

“Ah! Cheapskate! Cheapskate! How much fur could I possibly use?” the crow squawked with immense grievance, but it didn’t slow his tail-feathers as he vanished in a flash.

The pears outside the window were ripe, emitting an enticing fragrance. These pears were different from modern ones; they grew in clusters, alternating left and right. The ones on the left were paler and painfully sour, only good for jam. The ones on the right were greener, sweet, crisp, and perfect for eating. Each pear was as big as a werebeast’s two fists. Those on the higher branches sagged under their weight. Seeing Apple rolling towards the window, Lei Jin reached out and plucked two green pears. He wiped them casually on his clothes and took a loud crunch – the juice was refreshing. Apple, hearing the sound of eating, rolled over at speed.

Lei Jin gritted his teeth. Why did this baby only move when it involved food?

Apple affectionately licked Lei Jin’s dangling ankle. Lei Jin kept munching his pear. When he felt enough time had passed, he spoke: “Big Apple, open your eyes and look at Daddy.”

Lei Jin watched intently. After a long moment, nothing happened. Another failure, he thought, gently nudging Apple’s forehead away with his foot. But then, a miracle occurred. Apple’s right eyeball visibly twitched, as if straining to lift the eyelid.

Thrilled, Lei Jin swung his legs off the windowsill in one fluid motion. He grabbed a large cluster of milk-fruit from a bowl on the table and crouched down, coaxing: “Big Apple, open your eyes, and Daddy will give you food.”

Apple, smelling the milk-fruit, lifted his heavy head, pursing his lips to bite. Lei Jin held it just out of reach – Apple could touch it but not eat. Apple seemed to panic; loud “gurgles” erupted from his belly.

“Big Apple, open your eyes! Look at Daddy! Even if it’s just one eye!”

The next moment, Lei Jin was stunned. Apple’s eyes really opened this time. But only one. The right eye. Blood-red. The color of a ruby, dazzlingly brilliant. The color signifying Mingya’s loss of control. A baby’s gaze is always clear and bottomless, so Lei Jin could plainly see that his own reflection was nowhere in that eye. The pupil darted around, focused solely on the cluster of milk-fruit.

“Ah…” Apple opened his mouth wide.

Seeing Apple’s utterly single-minded greed, the anger of being ignored by his son easily overpowered Lei Jin’s initial fear. He tossed the milk-fruit aside, grabbed Apple, and pulled him close to his face. “Are you that lazy?! I said open one eye, and you only open one?!”

Mingya was behind the house curing meat. He had just finished kneading it and was about to apply salt when he heard Lei Jin’s roar. Knowing he was probably arguing with Apple again, he quickly wiped his hands, untied the small leather apron around his waist, and ran inside.

“What’s wrong, Lei Jin?” Mingya first picked up Lei Jin, who was kneeling on the floor, and placed him back on the windowsill. Then he looked at Apple. One glance, and he froze too. “The baby’s eyes?”

“It’s exactly what you see,” Lei Jin retorted, glaring at the chubby Apple, still fuming.

Apple remained blissfully unaware of his father’s anger. He stayed sprawled on the floor, blinking his single, large ruby-red eye, looking at Lei Jin, then at Mingya. He nibbled his own little tail, his expression clearly conveying hunger.

Mingya’s heart softened. This was the baby Lei Jin had borne for him. Whatever he looked like, he loved him. He shifted into his beast form, lay down on the floor, and gently licked Apple.

Apple, perhaps momentarily forgetting his hunger and relieved to be freed from his father’s grip, seemed happy too. He actively rolled into the space between Mingya’s front paws and nuzzled Mingya’s chin with his head.

Lei Jin had no recourse against this pair of exasperatingly simple father and son. He put on his shoes, climbed out the window, untied the gazelle, mounted it, and left them to their bonding.

“Lei Jin, don’t go too far!” Mingya called after him from the window.

“Got it! Keep an eye on your lazy son!” Lei Jin called back, holding the reins.

It was late autumn now. Though the weather had been warm this year, and Lei Jin wore light clothes at home, he felt the chill the moment he stepped outside. He couldn’t be bothered to go back for more layers. After galloping a loop across the grasslands, his body warmed up, and his mood lifted considerably. Honestly, after a long stretch of days centered around a chubby baby by the warm stove, boredom had started to set in.

“Daddy!” Grapes came running across the little wooden bridge spanning the stream, arms outstretched.

Lei Jin bent down, lifted him up, and settled him in front of him, holding him close. “Where did you go today?”

“Went with Eldest Dad to the mountains! We picked lots of mushrooms! There’s a little dam in the lake water; the grass on top is all yellow. You can walk straight to the little island! There are lots of red fruit trees on the island! The fruit falls into the water, and little yellow ferrets float up from underwater caves to eat it! Eldest Dad catches them with grass nets! Roasted, their bones are crispy! Delicious! Eldest Dad knows so many fun places! And…” Lei Jin smiled, watching Grapes chatter with starry-eyed admiration, gesturing animatedly. When it came to fun, no one in the family could match Xiya. According to Roger, he’d roamed every mountain and valley since childhood; he knew which trees had bird nests even outside the tribe. Now the children adored following him; he always brought unexpected delights.

Shortly after the lotus pond was dug, Lei Jin had conveniently set up two swing frames nearby. Thick, sturdy hemp ropes supported simple wide wooden planks. He hadn’t had such things as a child. Now, even with simple materials, he wanted his children to have more fun. An Bu occasionally came to stay for a few days, playing with the children.

Over time, Lei Jin realized An Bu was quite a thoughtful person – much like Moya in that regard. Lei Jin had mentioned offhandedly a few days ago that the wooden planks seemed too simple; he worried the children might fall. Lei Jin hadn’t taken it seriously, thinking the thick grass beneath would cushion any fall. Unexpectedly, An Bu arrived today with two wide-mouthed large wicker baskets to replace the planks. They had slightly concave bottoms and high backs. Even Lei Jin could comfortably sit – or even nap – in one, let alone the children.

Another harvest season passed. The cellar was full. So, using leftover timber from building the house, they constructed a new granary specifically for storing grain. The corn, still on the cob, wasn’t stored yet. Moya, An Sen, and the others brought in the wheat and rice stalks dried in the fields. They were stored unhusked to last longer.

Apple opened his left eye about a month later. Winter had arrived. While it wasn’t bitterly cold yet, the werebeasts of the household decided to dig lotus roots from the pond. An Bu was there too, but everyone forbade him from going into the water. So Lei Jin, Roger, and An Bu stayed on the veranda. A small charcoal stove beneath their feet boiled water. Lei Jin brewed barley tea for everyone. The roasted barley kernels naturally released an enticing, toasty aroma. Roger and An Bu weren’t talkative, speaking only occasionally. Lei Jin carried most of the conversation.

The werebeasts were digging lotus roots for the first time and lacked experience. The roots they pulled up were broken, fragmented, and filled with mud. Since it was all for their own consumption, just requiring more washing, Lei Jin didn’t mind. Apple slept peacefully in his arms.

“When do you plan to hold the bonding ceremony?” Roger asked, blowing on his tea.

“Either this winter or next spring,” Lei Jin replied. He was mainly worried about Apple – lazy and gluttonous. He was reluctant to be away for so long. The ceremony would be followed immediately by the trip to the Sacred Lake; the whole thing would take nearly two months.

“It’s better to settle this matter sooner. We’ll take care of the children,” An Bu reassured him, dispelling his concern.

Mingya leaped out of the water, clutching a wriggling fish. They hadn’t stocked the pond with fish fry; this one must have washed in. Mingya laughed and called out to Lei Jin. The fish, gleaming silver in the sunlight, arced towards him.

Lei Jin’s attention was fully on Mingya. He didn’t notice Apple waking up. Apple smelled the food in his father’s hand and tried to get closer to eat. Clumsily, he bumped into Lei Jin’s arm. The teacup in Lei Jin’s hand tipped, spilling tea all over Apple’s head and face.

“Apple!” Lei Jin quickly grabbed a cloth towel nearby to dry him off, pinching his ears. “You little dummy!” Luckily, the tea had cooled a bit and wasn’t scalding.

“Give him to me. Go change your clothes,” Roger offered, standing up to take Apple. Lei Jin’s pants were soaked too.

Apple moved for once, pressing against Lei Jin’s chest and licking the tea residue from his hand in small, careful licks.

“Stop drinking that, it’s dirty,” Lei Jin scolded, using his left hand to push Apple’s paw away.

Apple squirmed vigorously in his grip. Lei Jin almost lost his hold. Seeing Apple look at him again with that red eye, he instinctively covered it with his right hand. He didn’t mean to, but it gave him a strange feeling. He had let go of his grievances with Mingya, but the memory of their violent encounter in the temple when Mingya came of age was too vivid. Seeing Apple’s red eye always brought that scene back.

Distracted, a scene similar to a month ago unfolded. This time, it was Apple’s left eyeball that moved. When the eyelid lifted, it revealed a clear, rain-washed azure blue.

Left eye: Azure Blue. Right eye: Ruby Red. What kind of bizarre combination was this?

Lei Jin paused, then hugged him tightly. “Big Apple, ol’ Dad won’t reject you for your… imperfection.”

“Ah…” Apple obligingly opened his mouth in response.

Lei Jin’s mouth twitched suspiciously. He tossed Apple into Roger’s arms and went back inside to change clothes.

“This eye color…?” An Bu leaned closer, studying Apple’s mismatched eyes carefully. Apple slept most of the time; this was the first time An Bu had seen his eyes up close.

“A sign of power?” Roger finished his thought.

“You know about this?” An Bu looked up, surprised.

“I heard it from the old priest. He told me some ancient chants passed down through generations. Snow Leopards might originally have been called Blood Leopards because they were born with blood-red eyes. The purer and earlier the red appeared, the greater the power. Later, Snow Leopards became fewer in the tribe, let alone ones with red eyes.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

An Bu nodded. “I always thought that was just a legend. I’d never seen it. I haven’t even seen An Luo’s eyes turn red. It seems our baby here will be very powerful when he grows up.”

“That’s not necessarily true,” Roger countered, less optimistic. Mingya had it too, appearing when he was fifteen to save Lei Jin. Yet he remained… well, Mingya. Simple.

Despite his “imperfection,” Apple had finally opened both eyes. Lei Jin felt a weight lift from his heart. He finally relented on the bonding ceremony. They would hold it this winter.

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ

Xiya groaned, leaning on Lei Jin’s shoulder. He’d almost forgotten about the little fellow.

“Dada.” Bubble twisted his little body, drowsily calling out again before curling up and falling still. The knot on the bundle had come undone, fluffy cotton stuffing scattered everywhere. The tiny merfolk was still sound asleep, dressed in a brand-new, cream-white garment, only his shimmering golden fishtail peeking out from underneath.

Lei Jin chuckled softly, glancing around but not seeing anyone else. Puzzled, he asked, “Why did you only bring Bubbles back? Where are Berg and the others?”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Xiya mixed some warm water and pulled Lei Jin over to wash the corn paste off his hands. “I found Bubbles at the market.”

“Found him? Why didn’t you ‘find’ some money while you were at it?” Lei Jin thought Xiya was joking. He shook the water off his hands nonchalantly and grabbed the cloth towel hanging on the rack.

Xiya laughed. “It’s true. I ran into Chief Le Ping at the market. He was talking to me about that hide pouch you made when we heard people shouting near the market entrance. They said there was a little merfolk dragging a huge string of pearl oysters, asking everyone to take him to the Leopard Tribe to find his dada. I knew it had to be Bubbles.”

“What the hell is Berg doing?” Lei Jin muttered, furious that Bubbles had been left alone in the crowded, chaotic market.

“Not sure about that. Alright, leave this to me. Take Bubbles inside.” Xiya pinched Lei Jin’s waist, pushing him out. He quickly washed up, rolled up his sleeves, and took over pressing the corn flatcakes onto the pot rim. His movements were far more practiced than Lei Jin’s—kneading the dough, shaping the flatcakes, and remembering to stir the duck stew that was still half-raw.

“Let me handle it. Drink this to warm up first.” After settling Bubbles, Lei Jin had made a large bowl of sweet, warm rice flour paste for Xiya, adding powdered sugar. He considered himself quite conscientious; Xiya had been traveling back and forth for days, he couldn’t let him cook the moment he got back.

“Why aren’t you in there with them?” Xiya took a couple of sips.

“Bubbles’ still asleep. The three little ones are watching him.”

The chopping board held half-cut tofu, and a basin held soaking shiitake mushrooms. Lei Jin prepared to continue.

“Still hungry? Want some shiitake tofu soup? I can make that. Don’t get your hands dirty again. Besides, this doesn’t need two people.”

The freshly cooked flatcakes were piping hot. Xiya hissed, scalded, but clearly starving. He wolfed down half a flatcake with the rice paste and handed the other half to Lei Jin. Pointing to the stool by the hearth, he said, “Food at home is the best. If you’re free, sit there and keep me company.”

The food wouldn’t be ready anytime soon. Seeing how famished Xiya was, Lei Jin found some long bamboo skewers. He alternately threaded them with cured sausages and the leftover spring rolls from lunch, brushing on a layer of homemade sauce. He pretended nonchalance as he leaned on the stove to sit down, but his right leg betrayed him, trembling uncontrollably. He hadn’t exerted himself much recently; today’s fight had taken a toll.

“I’ll grill these for you. Have something to tide you over.”

“Keep away from the fire. Don’t burn yourself.” Xiya smiled, lowering his head to knead the shiitakes, not noticing Lei Jin’s discomfort.

Lei Jin, the flatcake dangling from his mouth, obediently moved his feet slightly away. He added two pieces of firewood and started grilling the sausages and spring rolls. The sizzling sound of sauce and oil dripping onto the flames filled the air. Soon, the skins were slightly charred and ready to eat.

Moya and Mingya were on duty this month, patrolling the outskirts of the tribe every day. Their meals were provided by the tribe, and they wouldn’t be back until past midnight.

Winter days darkened quickly. Just as they were about to bar the door after dinner, Ivey and his family arrived, bringing things. Xiya had bought a lot this time, and Ivey had helped carry some back. Time flew, especially evident in children. Shuli was now a sturdy seven to eight-year-old boy, taking after his father—dark, strong, and endearingly honest. He sat quietly after entering. Xiya teased him about drooling over Lei Jin when he was little, and Shuli just scratched his head and chuckled.

Seeing Ivey seemed to have more to discuss, Lei Jin sent Grapes to take Shuli and Luhui to play in another room. Luhui was Ivey and Yaxi’s second child, a little female born the same year as Grapes, just a month younger. Fair and delicate-looking, but painfully shy. Grapes dug out a pile of walnuts, raisins, and candied melon strips from the cupboard. It took several calls before Luhui hesitantly climbed down from Yaxi’s lap.

With guests, the others naturally couldn’t just go to sleep. An Luo gathered some corn cobs from the wall racks and brought them inside. He set out wide, shallow rattan baskets in the room to shuck the kernels.

Everyone chatted while working, multitasking efficiently. Only Lei Jin suffered, sitting there aching all over, especially his lower back and right leg.

Ivey coming so late indeed had another purpose: his family’s general store. Before, when the tribe farmed collectively, Ivey could go hunting, and Yaxi alone could manage the shop. Now, the land was divided among families, and the plots were growing. With more food available, some families built pens to raise livestock they couldn’t eat immediately, also to accumulate fertilizer for the fields. Feeding and tending them took manpower. Ivey’s household only had him and Yaxi who could work. Juggling everything, they had no time for the shop. Their purpose tonight was to ask if Lei Jin’s family was interested in taking it over. After all, their large household was well-known, and Ivey was close to Xiya. Handing the shop to someone they trusted would be a relief.

Xiya thought it sounded good. The heavy farm work would naturally fall to him and his brothers; they wouldn’t let Lei Jin do it anyway. But he also knew Lei Jin wasn’t the type to sit idle. Giving him a shop to tinker with was perfect. Plus, there was papa. Papa had real substance in his head, and Lei Jin had clever ideas. The two together would surely cook up many good things. His mind was already seventy to eighty percent decided. Seeing his two dads also approved, he didn’t outright agree, wanting to discuss it with Moya and Mingya first.

Ivey didn’t expect an immediate answer. Seeing Xiya and Lei Jin hadn’t refused, he said he’d hold the shop for them, and the price could be negotiated.

Xiya coaxed the four little ones to sleep on Mingya’s bed. Finding Lei Jin sprawled on his own bed, intently prying open pearl oysters with a small knife, he scooped him up and slung him over his shoulder. “First, come bathe with me.”

Lei Jin hung upside down, gritting his teeth as he sucked in a sharp breath.

“What’s wrong?” Xiya heard the strained sound.

“Nothing. Put me down. I haven’t even taken my clothes off yet.”

“With me here, you think I can’t get your clothes off?” Xiya reached down and gave Lei Jin’s buttock a meaningful squeeze. The implication was clear.

Lei Jin wasn’t one to be coy either. The moment his feet touched the ground, he unbuttoned his clothes matter-of-factly and tossed them aside. Turning, he jumped into the large wooden tub. The water contained some root herbs and leaves given by Mura. Lei Jin had used it a few times; it was quite relaxing, and the scent was light. Now everyone in the family used it.

“The soap’s over there.” Lei Jin pointed to the new shelf by the north wall—simple and practical, perfect for keeping small items handy.

“That thing you, papa, and Mura have been tinkering with every day?” Xiya remembered Lei Jin always saying those grasses and leaves Mura gathered were great for washing face and body, just troublesome to use. He’d said it would be better if they could make soap.

“Yeah. The green one’s made with sheep fat, the orange one with pig fat.” Lei Jin was pleased. Honestly, he hadn’t done much. Mura gathered the raw materials, Roger experimented with the formulas, and he was just the enthusiastic spectator.

Xiya picked up the supposedly sheep-fat soap. It felt slightly greasy to the touch but felt warm and smooth when applied. He rubbed some onto his fingers, pulled Lei Jin’s waist closer, and slid his hand down the crease between his buttocks to the hidden entrance. He bent a finger, probing inside to lubricate, while his lips roamed Lei Jin’s chest with kisses.

Lei Jin’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Then, a teasing smile curved his lips. He leaned back slightly, hands resting on Xiya’s shoulders, actively lifting his hips to press teasingly against Xiya’s half-hard member. Xiya withdrew his finger, pressed Lei Jin against the tub, and bent his legs forward. But his shaft only managed to push halfway in before getting stuck. Lei Jin was clenched far too tight; both felt uncomfortable.

Xiya initially thought Lei Jin was playing hard to get. After all their times together, Lei Jin shouldn’t have such a rejection reaction. But when he saw Lei Jin’s expression, he knew he was terribly wrong. The sweat at Lei Jin’s hairline felt icy cold to the touch—clearly cold sweat. This wasn’t pleasure; it was endurance of pain.

“Go deeper,” Lei Jin exhaled, trying to force himself to relax.

“What’s really wrong?” Seeing him like this, Xiya couldn’t continue. No matter how uncontrollable his desire was, he gritted his teeth, cupped Lei Jin’s buttocks, pried them apart, and pulled out.

“Told you, it’s nothing.” Just some superficial injuries.

Xiya wouldn’t believe him again. The water’s impurities obscured the view. He simply lifted Lei Jin out. After a thorough inspection, he finally discovered the large, overlapping bruises—blue and purple—covering Lei Jin’s back, waist, and right leg.

“Who did this?” Xiya’s face darkened. These injuries were clearly from heavy blows.

Seeing he couldn’t hide it, Lei Jin confessed.

Winter was the slack farming season, perfect for building new irrigation canals. Plus, the river was shallow, so they could also dredge the silt from the old canals. At noon, he’d accompanied An Bu to inspect the work. A group of females had swarmed them, stubbornly bringing up the old proposal: they wanted to clear-cut the forest behind the tribe and turn it all into farmland.

Lei Jin had heard this before and hadn’t paid much mind. Want to farm? Want to clear land? Go ahead. But later, Roger had mentioned that without the forest, the Leopard Tribe’s prime water source would be ruined within eight to ten years. Naturally, Xiya and the others couldn’t ignore that. Over the years, An Bu had explained the reasoning countless times. But people were like that—disasters unseen were easily dismissed, while the benefits were tangible: more land, more grain, better food for families. Lei Jin, impatient with endless repetition of the same arguments, had declared: Let’s settle it with a fight. Winner makes the rules.

This world, frankly, was a wilderness where might spoke loudest. It was in their nature, werebeasts or female alike. Lei Jin’s suggestion hit the mark. Even the werebeasts nearby cheered, saying it was the fairest way.

First, weed out the ringleaders. Lei Jin pointed out over thirty females. He knew if they were subdued, the matter would be mostly settled.

Lei Jin’s intelligence was obvious to all. But his physique wasn’t particularly strong, even among females. This gave many a surge of confidence.

After Lei Jin easily took down ten opponents, people stopped underestimating him. After twenty fell, some began to waver. When thirty were down, the group finally conceded defeat.

When recounting it to Xiya, Lei Jin naturally emphasized how effortlessly cool and mighty he’d been. But deep down, he knew the truth: he’d won through superior combat experience, but those females had raw strength. He’d definitely taken plenty of hits.

Hearing the full story, Xiya felt both pride and helplessness.

Lei Jin burrowed under the blankets. The less important aftermath, he chose to forget. To be safe, he’d also gone to the temple. With a gentle, persuasive demeanor, he “consulted” with the old priest, suggesting prophecies about divine punishment for destroying the forest. Tribe members deeply believed in spirits residing in all things, so this method would surely work. He knew the old priest felt guilty over Mingya’s coming-of-age ceremony. Wouldn’t it be cruel not to let the old man make amends?

“Don’t be so rigid about the process. A good outcome is what matters. The journey isn’t really important.” Brother Jin began imparting what he considered sound philosophy. He guaranteed that with this dual approach, no one would bring it up again.

Xiya agreed, applying herbal paste to help disperse the bruising. “Get some sleep. Otherwise, when Moya and the others get back, you’ll have to explain all over again.” Regardless, Lei Jin’s method was indeed much more effective than their painstaking persuasion.

“Aren’t you sleeping?” Lei Jin knew it was late.

Xiya leaned down and kissed his cheek, tilting his head towards the open wardrobe stuffed full of dirty clothes.

Lei Jin coughed, forcing a dry chuckle. “The weather’s bad. Washed clothes won’t dry.” What could one say about Lei Jin? He liked cleanliness and tidiness, yes, but washing and mending? That was beyond him in this lifetime.

If he had a life motto, it might be: No one’s perfect. A handsome guy needs some charming flaws to set him off.

“Right. Very ‘charming’ flaws. Husband, you focus on sleeping. Washing clothes? That’s a wife’s job.” Xiya teased, using the term Lei Jin had demanded.

“Good boy.” Lei Jin beamed with praise, but his tone shifted. “But you just got back today. We’ll deal with it tomorrow.”

“I’ll finish quickly. Uncle An Bu has some things for me to do tomorrow.”

“Then I’ll pry open a few more oysters. I’ll wait for you.” The oysters Bubbles brought were each as large as cattail fans. Inside each were two or three pearls the size of a baby’s fist. Every one glowed with a soft, warm light. Lei Jin planned to use them as lamps.

“Did you run into snow on the road?” Lei Jin rinsed the pried pearls in a basin of clean water by the bed, dried them off, and stuffed them all under his blanket.

Xiya brought in several buckets of water from the stream outside, taking the hot water pot from the brazier. “Snow was heavy up north. We hit it twice on the trip, but no major trouble. I brought back lots of cotton and cotton cloth, enough for you. Qinghe and the others said to invite you to the Wolf Tribe whenever you want. Thanks to your good idea, they dug wells with huge effort these past years. It started working last year. With water, the harvests are much better. The Bear Tribe kept their promise and is willing to sell us bronze and iron now. Pricey, but it’s a start. Chief Le Ping gave us two small hoes and a little iron pot—in the bottom bundle. Hmm… didn’t see Berg. Sent the things with his tribespeople…”

The charcoal fire blazed, casting a warm, red glow throughout the room. The night deepened, the howling north wind sweeping across the vast grasslands outside. Xiya talked; Lei Jin listened, occasionally humming to prove he was still conscious. He’d gotten used to only falling into deep sleep after opening the door for Moya and Mingya each night. But today’s fight had drained him; his mind was already foggy.

“Lei Jin, what do you think about taking over Ivey’s shop?”

“Mmm.” Lei Jin responded automatically, then fell silent.

Xiya smiled, got up to tuck the blanket around him, and carried the basin to the outer room to wash.

Outside, the air was cold enough to freeze water. Xiya hung the washed clothes outside, securing them. With this wind, they’d probably be mostly dry by morning.

“Wind’s fierce tonight.” Xiya blew on his hands, glancing at the western sky. Werebeasts were still on their final patrol of the duty shift. Times were peaceful, but no one dared lower their guard.

Moya and Mingya returned just as Xiya was smoothing out the bedding. While they washed up, Xiya discussed Ivey’s shop proposal with them. Moya also thought it a good idea. Mingya naturally followed his brothers’ lead.

“Eldest Brother, did you know? Lei Jin was amazing today! He took down over thirty females so easily!” Mingya piped up, disappointed he and Second Brother had been on patrol and missed it.

“I know already.” Xiya smiled. Lei Jin’s pride was monumental; he wouldn’t shatter the illusion in front of Mingya. As for Moya, he’d discover the truth once he got into bed.

“Eldest Brother, you just got back and you already know?”

“Stop fidgeting.” Moya was pressing a hot compress onto Mingya’s left leg.

Mingya gave an embarrassed smile and sat back obediently.

The four little ones had taken over his bed, so Mingya wriggled into Xiya’s blanket to squeeze in with him.

“Eldest Brother, what did you buy at the market?” Mingya asked, hugging Xiya’s waist.

“Bought lots of things. You can look tomorrow.” Xiya turned over, letting Mingya scoot closer to the wall. This house was built when he was ten. Back then, his dads had purely found the three of them bothersome and kicked them out. Young and small, they could all fit on one bed. Now, even two sharing felt cramped. So even if Lei Jin hadn’t mentioned building a house, they would have needed to. With children, this house truly couldn’t hold them all.

“Eldest Brother, you’re really warm.” Mingya burrowed deeper into Xiya’s embrace.

“Keep wriggling like that, and I’ll fall off the bed. Is your leg hurting in the cold?” Their little brother, afraid of pain and prone to tears since childhood—who would have thought he’d endure such hardship for Lei Jin?

“Doesn’t hurt. Second Brother’s just worried. Look, Eldest Brother, I also have this!” Mingya proudly stretched out his left leg for Xiya to see. The injured area was wrapped in a thick, soft piece of hide. The stitching, however, was a tragic spectacle—crooked, uneven, with coarse thread trailing everywhere.

“Lei Jin made this?” Xiya guessed. Such terrible needlework, yet daring to show it off—only Lei Jin fit the description.

Mingya nodded happily. “Leij Jin said wearing this in winter keeps my leg from getting cold.”

“Good boy. Just know it yourself from now on. Don’t show it to anyone outside.” Xiya pulled Mingya’s leg back under the blanket. “Don’t actually catch a chill and make your Second Brother fuss over you again.” Mingya had been thin and small since birth. When other children his age were running, he couldn’t even crawl. But leave him lying on the bed? He absolutely refused. So Xiya and Moya had carried him everywhere on their backs.

Xiya had many friends and loved playing around, so the task of carrying Mingya often fell to Moya. Back then, tribe members often saw a little black leopard cub with an even smaller snow leopard cub perched on his head, running alone through the grassland winds. Moya had been quiet and reserved since childhood, but truly good to his family.

Moya checked on the children. Returning, he lifted the blanket—the room instantly glowed. Lei Jin didn’t seem bothered by all those pearls in the bed. Unsurprisingly, Moya saw the bruises. Heartache washed over him, but he didn’t press for details.

Most of winter passed. Only scattered light snow had fallen on the grasslands. In two days, it would be the Moon Sacrifice Festival.

After the Moon Sacrifice, the year would truly end. Four years here, and this was Lei Jin’s first Moon Sacrifice. Everything felt fresh and new. The big winter hunts this year had been led by Xiya and Moya. For the final one, An Bu had gone along but handed leadership to Xiya.

Mingya had spent these days with some werebeasts at the western snow mountains—the source of the largest river flowing through the grasslands. The clear water used for the festival’s opening ceremony had to be fetched from there. Roger had selected eight prime carcasses from the root cellar early that morning—offerings for the sacrifice. The number each family offered depended on the number of adults—a fair system, no one objected. Besides, everyone wanted peace and plenty in the coming year. Lei Jin didn’t believe in these things, nor did Roger. But when in Rome… they understood not to stand out too much.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Hibernating all winter, the quiet streets buzzed with life again. The tribe had the old tradition of burning bamboo during the Moon Sacrifice, so crackling bamboo piles were everywhere.

Lei Jin sometimes wandered over to the temple. The sacrificial altar was already built. The wood was soaked in animal fat; once lit, it would burn for three days without going out.

During these three days, no hunting or slaughtering was allowed in the tribe. Families busily prepared food early. Their household made piles of dumplings. Lei Jin rubbed his belly. By next summer, their fourth child should be born.

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ

Moya’s initial surprise faded quickly, replaced by calm. His deep green eyes shone brightly as he gave a serious nod and a simple “en.” Seeing his earnest expression actually made Lei Jin feel a bit awkward. He suddenly realized this was probably the only time in his life he’d be “taking wives,” and blurting it out like that felt a little too casual. Shouldn’t he at least have picked some wildflowers or something as a token gesture? But then again, they were all grown men. Getting fussy about it would seem petty. Living together in the future was about sharing a bed happily and supporting each other off it. As for a fancy proposal? Well, it wasn’t really that important.

Mingya, though he’d already gotten the inside scoop, was genuinely elated now that it was confirmed. A puppy-like, affectionate smile spread across his lips and eyes. Terrified Lei Jin might change his mind, he immediately blurted out, “Mingya wants to! Mingya wants to!” His voice was indeed loud enough to startle the birds already roosting in nearby trees. Countless little heads poked out from the foliage, lining up to chatter and gossip.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Xiya’s reaction was the most exaggerated. He directly tackled Lei Jin to the ground, planting a solid, thorough kiss before finally grinning and saying, “Naturally, I’m willing too.”

Lei Jin wrinkled his brow, wiping the saliva from his face. Well, I guess the proposal counts as successful. He promptly followed up with instructions: “Remember to call me ‘husband’ from now on, wives. Or ‘Brother Jin’ is also fine.” He generously offered two options.

Neither Xiya nor Moya had expected the issue they’d been quietly worrying about to be resolved so simply, on such a late autumn evening. Now, only a public ceremony remained. Truly, with Lei Jin involved, you couldn’t rely on conventional reasoning.

The tribe was small; nothing escaped notice. So, the very next day when Lei Jin stepped out, he was met with countless suggestive glances. The bolder ones outright eyed his belly, their envy and jealousy unmistakable.

“Ngh…” Lei Jin dug his fingers into the dry, yellow grass beneath him, enduring the rough friction inside him. The area between his buttocks was already slick, indicating they’d been at it for a while. But the silver-white leopard still pressed fervently against his back, his breath hot, clearly not done. His four paws wrapped tightly around the body beneath him, hips thrusting, driving insistently against sensitive inner walls.

The two of them carried on for most of the afternoon before finally satisfying themselves. Mingya shifted back to human form and carried Lei Jin into the water for a quick wash.

“We’re not coming here anymore. It’s getting cold, the water’s freezing.” Lei Jin squeezed the water from his hair as he climbed out. This was Mingya’s sea of grass. Lei Jin had seized every spare moment to drag Mingya here for a few rounds. But most of autumn had passed, and his belly remained stubbornly flat. Before, when he hadn’t wanted it, it happened in one go. Now that he was finally willing, nothing seemed to work.

It was deep autumn now, winter fast approaching. Even with Lei Jin’s robust constitution, he wasn’t keen on suffering a cold bath in the biting northeast wind.

“Oh.” Mingya agreed, his post-passion excitement dimming slightly. He knew Lei Jin already spoiled him terribly, indulging his every whim. A baby wasn’t something you could force.

“Mingya will dry you off. Don’t get sick.” Mingya wrapped Lei Jin entirely in his own large tunic, briskly rubbing him down from head to toe.

“Alright, I’ll do it. You get dressed too.” Lei Jin flicked Mingya’s forehead. Since becoming a little father, the kid had gotten remarkably good at taking care of people.

“Almost done.” Mingya knelt patiently on the ground, carefully tying Lei Jin’s clothes.

Lei Jin hooked a finger under Mingya’s chin, forcing him to look up. “We’re not coming here anymore, but that doesn’t mean I won’t let you do it at home, does it?” His thoughts were transparent.

Mingya hugged Lei Jin’s legs, rubbing against him like an affectionate puppy.

Lei Jin was fully dressed now, but Mingya was still standing there naked. With nothing else to do, Lei Jin turned his attention to Mingya. The little guy was twenty this year, in his prime. Clean-cut features, tall and well-built with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, clearly defined muscles. His personality was genuinely adorable, unpretentious. Looked at any way, he was utterly appealing. Lei Jin stroked his chin, flashing a lecherous-uncle grin.

Mingya squirmed under Lei Jin’s predatory gaze, subtly turning his back.

Lei Jin sauntered over, casually giving Mingya’s firm buttocks a couple of appreciative squeezes. “En, great feel. Let me try it out sometime,” he remarked, not without admiration.

Mingya’s face flushed crimson. Clutching his clothes, his eyes were wide and watery with confusion.

They kept up this routine every few days. Xiya and Moya saw it, but tactfully stayed out of it. Despite such diligent “plowing,” Lei Jin’s belly remained obstinately flat. Determined not to miss anything, he even pushed Tian Qi to check his pulse several times. The result was always the same: healthy, but not pregnant. After a few attempts, he almost died of embarrassment under Chunji’s teasing laughter. Chunji said he’d seen females wanting babies, but never one so frantic and impatient. Eventually, Lei Jin accepted it – these things couldn’t be rushed. Let nature take its course.

Winter arrived. Though snow hadn’t fallen yet, the days grew visibly colder. Charcoal braziers were lit indoors. The cleanly washed animal hide curtains from spring were rehung. Windows were freshly pasted with bark paper. Beds were piled with thick blankets. Nestled inside, it was wonderfully warm and cozy. Everyone in the household, big and small, bundled up in thick fur clothes. Even the two little furballs, who rarely shifted to human form, got stylish new outfits with four sleeves, all sewn by Su Rui. When Qi Luo delivered them, he watched expectantly. Lei Jin couldn’t just toss them into the bottom of a cabinet in front of him. But the direct consequence of dressing them was that every time Lei Jin took them out, watching the two little golden leopards scamper ahead in their clothes, he sincerely felt the bizarre sensation of walking dogs back in the modern world.

The three little ones lay side-by-side on the bed, bare-skinned, cheeks puffed out like little hamsters as they munched on the popcorn Lei Jin had idly tried making. Seeing their ol’ dad rummaging through the chest muttering about how many clothes there were, Grapes stuffed the remaining popcorn into Orange’s mouth and piped up with his usual cleverness. “Daddy, when you weren’t home, our Dads made lots of clothes for you every year. That one with the grey fur on the sleeves? That’s from the big forest grey rat Youngest Dad caught. The black one? Eldest Dad brought that back. The one right at the bottom? That’s from Dad…”

Lei Jin smiled, neatly arranging them, hoping to wear them all through this winter.

The Tiger Tribe’s annual market was approaching. The family prepared three large bundles well in advance: one for Hao Chen and his family, one for Berg (whose second child was likely due around that time), and the last for trading at the market itself. Worried An Bu’s old injury might flare up on the journey, Xiya led the tribe delegation this time.

Shortly after Xiya’s departure, the first major winter hunt loomed. While An Sen and the others prepared gear at home, Moya took Mingya, Lei Jin, and the three little ones to An Bu’s place. Living alone, he probably hadn’t prepared much for winter. When they arrived, An Bu sat with some willow twigs, a basket half-woven in his hands. The house felt icy; no charcoal brazier was lit. Moya went to the woodshed and found some charcoal from last year to light. It took a while for the house to warm up.

Mingya boiled water in the kitchen. An Bu carried the children to the bed, then brought out a jar of wild honey, making each a cup of honey water. Sitting back down, he said, “You’re all busy. Don’t worry about coming here so often. My wounds are healed. I have food and drink; I won’t neglect myself. I didn’t light a brazier because werebeasts aren’t that bothered by the cold. You know that.”

Lei Jin did know. While tribal life had improved significantly these past few years, it was still mostly about filling bellies. Not every household could afford charcoal braziers in winter; charcoal was traded from the Bear Tribe. Usually, only better-off families or those with young females could afford to burn it.

“Dad, in a couple of days, we’re heading out for the big hunt. Dad An Luo said they’ll try letting me lead it this time.” It wasn’t the first time Lei Jin heard Moya call An Bu “Dad,” but it wasn’t common either. He used to call him Uncle An Bu, and later, out of consideration for Roger, hadn’t used the term much either.

A warm smile touched An Bu’s lips. “I heard him mention it. It should have been your Dad An Luo leading this time. I know you’re steady, but it’s your first time. I wasn’t sure I wanted to agree at first. But with your Dads An Sen and An Luo vouching for you… I have no real worries…”

Seeing they likely had more to discuss, Lei Jin pulled Mingya aside to mix paste and cut bark paper for the windows. Moya’s voice was low. Lei Jin faintly caught An Bu’s words, giving detailed instructions, mixed with something like “I know you don’t want to compete with Xiya…”, “Xiya’s temperament is indeed more suited…”, “You support each other…”, and “Lei Jin…”. He was trying to listen more closely when Mura and his mate Xia Wei arrived. They all chatted, laughed, and worked for a good while, thoroughly tidying the house inside and out. It felt much warmer than before.

With most werebeasts gone, the tribe felt noticeably quieter. The winter wheat, already sown, had been watered once before the snow. The few cold-hardy crops left in the fields – radishes, cabbage, cilantro, needle mushrooms – were also harvested.

A north wind howled all night, temperatures plummeting. Lei Jin woke in the morning, lifted the hide curtain over the window. The bark paper let in dim light, just enough to see the white world outside. It must have snowed. The three little ones lay tangled in a heap, still sound asleep. Grapes didn’t seem to mind Orange and Pomelo’s fuzzy warmth anymore; he hugged Orange, his little foot resting on Pomelo’s belly. Lei Jin smiled, tucked the blankets around them, stirred the charcoal brazier to life, and left a small gap in the window before taking his bow and arrows from the wall and heading out. Snow still fell lightly. The stream behind the house glistened, covered with a thin layer of ice.

He led the antelope, Bread, from the shed. After most of autumn being tamed, Bread was much calmer now. Not exactly docile and adorable, but at least it didn’t constantly snort, roll its eyes, and buck people off. Lei Jin was pleased with its progress and bestowed the name “Bread” – its back a toasted yellow, its belly snowy white. Lei Jin thought it perfectly fitting. Even Roger praised it as much better than the initial “Roasted Bun.”

This time of year, many animals on the grasslands had already begun migrating south. Even so, Lei Jin dared not venture deep into the heart of the plains alone. He just rode Bread along the edges for a couple of circuits. He managed to shoot a grey, long-haired rabbit and found some “black-spotted eggplants” in the low bushes. Their green skin, speckled with black dots, looked unappetizing, but peeling it revealed a deep purple flesh. Used to stew rice, cooked just right, the flesh melted away, leaving the rice sweet, fragrant, soft, and sticky – utterly delicious.

Back home, he and Roger made breakfast. He then went back to the room and hauled the three sleepyheads out of bed, feeding them one by one. Another busy day at home began.

Though the tribe now had more food variety, cooking methods were still mostly roasting or boiling. Grains like wheat, corn, and rice were usually boiled whole. Occasionally, they’d be pounded into powder to make porridge for children. Lei Jin hadn’t bothered much before, but since deciding to stay this time, and being someone who didn’t like keeping things to himself, he gathered some people and taught them slightly more refined ways to cook. Simple steamed rolls, plain buns, flatbreads, noodles, rice balls – many tribe females had mastered these. The more dexterous ones even made passable dumplings, stuffed buns, filled pies, and savory pastries. Everyone eating better was a good thing. But a problem arose: making those required flour. Crushing grains was easy, but after seeing the usefulness of the stone mill at Lei Jin’s house, everyone wanted one. Large mills ground flour; smaller ones could press fresh peanut oil and soybean oil. With the cold weather, the tribe’s females had free time. So, Lei Jin’s house was constantly overrun with people coming to grind flour and press oil – a steady stream, big and small.

Though Lei Jin naturally enjoyed bustle, this level of commotion was too much. He commissioned the tribe’s stonemasons (mostly werebeasts with disabilities preventing them from hunting, who relied on their craft for food) to quickly make several larger stone mills. He paid them extra meat, so they worked fast. The mills were placed in an old, unused building by the main road west of the tribe. By the time Moya and the others returned from the big hunt over a month later, things were back to normal. It had cost some resources, but Lei Jin felt regaining peace at home was worth it. Besides, with Xiya destined to be chief, building goodwill now was hardly a bad investment.

The cold was biting. For dinner, Lei Jin cooked himself, wanting to stew some duck to nourish everyone. He was pressing corn cakes onto the pot rim when he felt a sudden chill on the back of his neck.

“I’m back.” Xiya’s lips were still cold from outside.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Lei Jin hunched his shoulders. “Hmph,” he grunted, turning in Xiya’s arms. He reached up and patted Xiya’s face affectionately. “Back is back. Why the fuss? Can’t you see I’m busy?”

“What’s this?” Xiya felt something sticky on his face, but a glance at Lei Jin’s hands told him all he needed to know.

Since Lei Jin admitted to liking him even a tiny bit, Xiya had become increasingly brazen. He grinned shamelessly, pulling the dodging figure close and leaning in for a kiss. But this time, fate intervened. Just as their lips were about to meet, a sleepy little creature crawled out of the bundle at Xiya’s feet.

“Daddy.”

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ

“Chunji, stay for lunch today. Moya is already cooking. I’ll have Grapes go invite your master too,” Lei Jin said, rubbing his sore shoulders as he saw Chunji emerge from the room.

“Alright,” Chunji replied, washing his hands in the basin in the yard, not standing on ceremony with Lei Jin.

“Grapes, wash these yourself. I’ll pick some more,” Lei Jin tilted his chin towards the pile of grapes on the table. That simple-minded Mingya, knowing Lei Jin liked grapes, had gone all out planting them around the house. Now, looking across both courtyards, all you could see were lush green grape trellises. They were almost all ripe now, more than the family could eat. Grape berries were falling everywhere. Lei Jin had recently planned to pick them to make some wine; it would be a shame to waste them.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Daddy, are you calling me?” Grapes pushed open the window and poked out his little head.

Lei Jin chuckled ruefully. Why hadn’t he thought of this complication when naming the kid? It really was troublesome.

Chunji laughed and beckoned Grapes over, sending him off to deliver the message to Tian Qi. As for Orange and Pomelo, naturally, they fulfilled their roles as Grapes’ constant tails and dutifully followed.

Grapes habitually glared at the two little ones but didn’t stop them from following. A pink, tender little boy led two golden little leopard cubs wobbling out the door.

Chunji clapped his hands and laughed heartily. “I think Grapes’ personality is just like yours.” Strong, independent, but also knew how to cherish and embrace the people around him. Easy to say, but how many could truly do it? At least he and Roger hadn’t managed it. That’s why he’d ultimately lost Pei Ning, why Roger and An Bu were still torturing each other. But Lei Jin… he could be the happiest one.

“My son naturally takes after me,” Lei Jin raised an eyebrow, not bothering to hide his pride at all. He handed the grapes he’d picked to Chunji, then jumped onto another stool. Lowering his voice slightly, he asked, “So… how’s the Chief’s injury?”

An Bu had been gravely wounded back then. Although he seemed fine moving around now, the foundation of his health was damaged; he needed careful recuperation. His own home was empty now, so An Sen and An Luo had discussed bringing him over. Living together meant they could look after each other.

After these years apart, Chunji had changed a lot too. He’d become more steady, cultivated his own plot of land, and practiced medicine with Tian Qi in the tribe in exchange for food, no longer needing to rely on werebeasts. Thankfully, his sharp tongue remained; otherwise, Lei Jin wouldn’t have recognized him as Chunji.

Chunji placed the washed grapes into another wooden basin, not looking up. “When I changed his dressing today, the wounds looked mostly healed. But whether his body can fully recover won’t be certain until after this winter.” After all, it was a wound near the heart, not some other place.

“That’s good. When spring comes next year and the Chief is better, my house should be finished too. I’ll save a room for him then.” Thinking about the house gave him a headache. Once they’d actually started construction, he realized building a house in this world was no simple task. Materials couldn’t be bought; they had to prepare everything themselves bit by bit. Plus, wanting it to be comfortable meant needing even more things. Rather than constantly being short of this or that, it was better to pause construction and get everything ready. Besides, winter was less than two months away, and the tribe’s elders said houses built in winter weren’t sturdy. The only upside was that Jia He had already made quite a bit of the furniture Lei Jin wanted.

Moya tossed a handful of emerald-green spinach into the pot, deftly cracked two eggs into it, and stirred. Hearing Lei Jin’s words, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. Lei Jin understood his thoughts. No matter what his papa’s final decision was, he would support it. As for his dad… he could take care of him.

“I’ve been using Chunji’s medicine since coming back, and I feel much better now,” An Bu emerged from the room just in time to hear Chunji’s words.

“I know my own medical skills; you don’t need to flatter me,” Chunji retorted, not about to accept the gratitude. Thinking back now, he’d been far too stubborn back then. Having grown up following his master in the forbidden land, he’d hardly seen any normal people. When he started traveling alone in his teens, An Bu was the one who treated him best. But from start to finish, An Bu had only ever seen him as a child to care for. Why had he persisted for so many years?

An Bu’s gaze was gentle and calm; he didn’t take Chunji’s words to heart. He added, “I’ll move back to my own place in a couple of days. Leaving the house empty isn’t good; houses deteriorate quickly without people living in them.” He knew Lei Jin and Moya were good kids, but this wasn’t really his place to stay. At his age, he’d lost the impulsiveness of youth. Living alone wasn’t so bad.

Lei Jin wanted to persuade him to stay, but seeing Roger standing behind An Bu, his face instantly darkening, the amusement in Lei Jin’s eyes grew uncontrollably intense.

An Bu naturally noticed Lei Jin’s odd reaction, and that longed-for presence behind him… how could he possibly fail to recognize it?

Roger, embarrassed and angry under Lei Jin’s teasing gaze, directed the pent-up frustration inside him at the source. “Fine! If you’re going, leave sooner rather than later. No one’s forcing you to stay!” As soon as the words left Roger’s mouth, he kicked the door shut right in An Bu’s face.

“Serves you right,” Chunji muttered, feeling no pity for him. Someone usually so clear-headed when handling matters became utterly brainless the moment Roger was involved.

Lei Jin, with his nature of delighting in stirring up trouble, patted An Bu’s shoulder condescendingly from his perch, adding fuel to the fire with words like “tsundere” and “contrary.” The others listened, confused, only managing to make Roger grab a handful of charcoal sticks from the table and hurl them out the window at Lei Jin.

Seeing Roger’s complexion improve, Lei Jin happily teased him, nimbly dodging back and forth between the stools, occasionally even managing to cut down a bunch of grapes. But pride goes before a fall. He misstepped, a stool tipped over, and he tumbled down.

Moya, who had been leaning against the kitchen doorway watching their antics, lunged forward and caught him just in time. Glancing at Lei Jin’s stomach, he sighed, “You’re the papa of three children now, can’t you be a bit steadier?”

Lei Jin was unfazed. He loosened his grip and jumped down from Moya’s arms. “It’s fine, worst case, I take a tumble.”

Xiya and Mingya had gone into the mountains today to fell trees for the lumber needed for the new house.

An Sen and An Luo returned from the fields, bringing back some tender corn, green beans, cucumbers, and a few sweet potatoes, all washed clean in the stream.

Over the past few years, more people in the tribe had started planting corn and rice. Xiya and the others often went to the Tiger Tribe and brought back vegetable seeds from there as well. Plus, people had found some edible wild greens in the mountains to cultivate. Now there was a wide variety of vegetables. Some Lei Jin recognized; others were unique to this world, things he’d never seen before, with all sorts of different flavors.

One vegetable Lei Jin called “sugar green” was Grapes’ favorite. It was a small perennial shrub with purple-tinged green leaves. It sprouted and flowered in spring, bore fruit in summer, but the fruit only ripened in winter. The fruit was fist-sized, golden yellow. Boiled in a pot for half a day, it turned into sweet, fragrant syrup. When it solidified, it became semi-transparent, pale yellow sugar blocks, crisp and crunchy. When Lei Jin boiled it, he’d add various fruits inside, making it look fresh and pretty. Grapes always kept a couple of pieces in his pocket, ready to use them to charm other little females (and sometimes little werebeasts) whenever he went out. With his cunning little mind, Lei Jin wasn’t worried about him getting bullied; he was more concerned that Grapes would bully others.

Nowadays, during the spring famine, people in the tribe rarely starved to death. Since the seeds used by many families originally came from them, their family had become very popular in the tribe. Combined with An Bu’s status, if Xiya wanted to be chief, it would be practically guaranteed.

“Ol’ Dad! Ol’ Dad!” Two little furballs tumbled in first. Oil beads still glistened on their little whiskers; clearly, they’d eaten something outside.

Lei Jin grabbed their front paws, one in each hand, and plopped them onto his knees. “Where did you eat this time? At your godfather Qi Luo’s place?”

Pomelo lifted a furry paw to wipe his mouth. “Godfather Jia He cooked a huge pot of mutton.”

Orange licked his little lips, still savoring the taste.

Thinking of this, Lei Jin wanted to laugh. They’d agreed back then to let Qi Luo and Jia He help raise one of their children. Initially, it was supposed to be Pomelo, given his slightly smaller size back then. But Qi Luo and Jia He, overjoyed at finally having a child, went all out every day making delicious food to win Pomelo over. But Orange wasn’t having it. He started impersonating Pomelo to get free meals. When the two were together, you could tell them apart by size, but when Orange went alone, no one except Lei Jin could tell them apart at a glance. Even Xiya had made the mistake of bathing Pomelo, then immediately grabbing Pomelo and dunking him in again. So, at Qi Luo’s house, they often had this bizarre scene: they’d just fed Pomelo and sent him off, and the next moment, he’d come happily trotting back for more! Qi Luo was amazed at the kid’s appetite. After several times, Jia He finally caught on and came to discuss raising both children with Lei Jin. Lei Jin figured it amounted to the same thing now, so he agreed.

Mingya doted on Grapes the most. The moment he returned, he’d scoop him up for hugs and kisses. He’d just sat down beside Lei Jin when a foot nudged his leg. “Go wash up, you smell of sweat. It’s almost dinner soon.”

Mingya obediently agreed but didn’t move. He leaned in and whispered, “Were you uncomfortable today?”

“Nothing at all. What are you so worried about?” Lei Jin propped his chin on his hand, looking at him sideways, unconcerned.

“But…” Mingya bit his lower lip, glancing at his older brothers in the kitchen, unsure how to say it.

“Do I look like I have a baby inside me?” Lei Jin took Mingya’s hand and placed it on his still flat, firm abdomen.

Mingya hugged Lei Jin, carefully feeling his belly with his hand. Since Lei Jin’s return, the three of them had agreed not to use their beast forms when mating with Lei Jin for the next couple of years. Thinking about how much Lei Jin suffered each time he gave birth scared them.

But Lei Jin always took advantage when his older brothers were away, tricking Mingya into mating in beast form. It had happened several times already. Maybe his belly already held Mingya’s baby.

“If only I could be the one to give birth. Mingya isn’t afraid of pain anymore,” Mingya said, frustrated. He knew now that werebeasts couldn’t have babies.

Lei Jin ruffled his silver-white hair, amused by his adorable expression. “Hmm, I thought about it. Having a baby who looks like Mingya wouldn’t be bad.” He would probably never truly get used to pregnancy and childbirth. But since Moya and Xiya had children, he didn’t mind giving Mingya one too.

Hearing this, Mingya immediately grinned, leaning down to plant a quick, stealthy kiss on Lei Jin’s cheek. Then he shifted into his beast form, carrying the two little ones off to wash in the stream behind the house.

With more food options available now, Lei Jin had spared no effort in turning all three into cooking masters. Moya’s lunch of crispy meat pies – the pastry coated with meat sauce, yet flaky and layered when bitten – paired with a refreshing spinach soup, earned high praise from Chunji and Tian Qi. The werebeasts favored the pot of braised meat. The fire in the hearth crackled, filling the yard with the aroma of roasting corn and sweet potatoes.

After the rainy season, the sky grew higher, clearer, and brighter each day. Lei Jin busied himself taming his antelope on the grasslands with the three little ones. Roger stayed home, constantly writing and sketching, frequently visiting the old priest at the temple for advice. In between, he discussed making a simple blueprint for the new house with Lei Jin. The werebeasts of the household went into the mountains to fell trees, gather stone, dry thatch grass, find people to weave mats, tend the fields, and go on hunts. Everyone was busy with their own tasks, but the days were warm and peaceful. An Bu eventually chose to move out. The autumn harvest arrived swiftly, and the whole family got busy.

Inspired by the wheeled crib made for Grapes, Lei Jin just described the general idea this time, and Jia He, amazingly, intuitively created a two-wheeled flat cart. Even Lei Jin had to admire the other’s woodworking talent.

Though wheels sometimes jammed or came off, overall, it was a huge help. The werebeasts didn’t have to constantly shift forms to carry things home on their backs – which was taxing on their bodies. However, time was tight, so Jia He only managed to make five carts for close families, two of which Lei Jin had reserved early. The rest would have to wait.

After ten hectic days, potatoes and sweet potatoes were stored in the root cellar. The front and back yards were covered in golden corn and soybeans drying, fiery red chilies, and brown mushrooms and beans. Lei Jin also pickled sweet garlic, garlicky eggplant, cabbage, and wild vegetable pickles. Large pottery jars sealed with mud in the corner contained preserved quail eggs, pheasant eggs, duck eggs, goose eggs, and various unidentified bird eggs – all gifts from Mura, the egg enthusiast. Since the family couldn’t eat them all, Lei Jin pickled them. With these provisions, winter should be manageable.

After the autumn harvest, the northwest wind began to blow. The wheat hadn’t been sown yet; the fields held only short corn stubble.

“Let’s go. We’ll stop here for today. It’s getting dark; time to head home,” Moya patted Lei Jin’s shoulder, calling out to Xiya and Mingya not far away.

Dusk deepened, the tribe shrouded in blue-grey cooking smoke.

“Let’s get married.” Lei Jin gazed out at the vast, dark, cold, and silent wilderness. Yet, because of the three people beside him, many things felt different. In that moment, he suddenly wanted to settle down.

“En?” Moya didn’t understand.

“I said, let’s have the ceremony.”

Bathed in the sunset, Lei Jin stood tall and straight. The wind lifted the hem of his tunic. A smile spread across his face slowly, his dark eyes gleaming with unfettered brilliance and passion.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

This version of Lei Jin… was truly beautiful. Moya was momentarily stunned.

“Let’s have the ceremony. When the house is built, the four of us will have the ceremony. I’ll take you all home!” Lei Jin shouted excitedly.

Passersby laughed good-naturedly. They’d never seen such a proactive female before.

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ