Moya noticed the struggle in Lei Jin’s eyes and understood that the days and nights Lei Jin had spent with Xiya had inevitably fostered feelings between them. This was the very reason Moya had left back then. Now that it had become a reality, he should feel relieved. The slight feeling of suffocation in his heart was probably just an adjustment period. It would pass with time. After all, the fact that the three of them could be together was already a rare blessing, and they should cherish it.

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

But right now, he needed to clear his head. Moreover, since they had encountered the blue-tailed lizard this time, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t run into more dangerous creatures in the future. It was better to be prepared. This time, they had been lucky that Elder Brother was unharmed.

Despite Lei Jin’s objections, Moya ventured out into the rain. The stone orchid grew in the crevices of rocks, its leaves edged with blue serrations. This season, it should have been blooming with pink flowers. The forest was muddy from the heavy rain, but Moya managed to find a large bundle of stone orchids and tucked them into his arms. Thinking that the cave was running low on food, he also hunted some game, which took a bit more time.

Since the path he had taken was downhill, and the rain made it difficult to climb back up, Moya decided to take a different route. He also wanted to check the cliff where he had saved Berg.

Originally, he had planned to let bygones be bygones, just hoping to return safely to the tribe with Lei Jin and Xiya. But since Berg had hurt Lei Jin, Moya couldn’t let it go.

As Moya approached the cave, the animals sheltering inside sensed his presence and fled. He had enough game and didn’t bother chasing them. Tightening the vine around his body, he bent down and entered the cave. The interior was damp from the rainwater. After searching for a while, Moya found a conch half-buried in the dirt. When he had saved Berg, this conch had been with him. The moment Berg saw it upon waking, his face had turned pale with fear—a genuine, bone-deep terror that couldn’t be faked. Moya believed this conch held a secret that Berg feared, and it might be the key to avenging Lei Jin. He tucked it away, planning to study it later.

On his way back, Moya heard a loud rumble from the mountain, and the ground shook violently. It took a while for the tremors to stop. Having experienced this twice in a short time, Moya felt a bit dizzy.

When he returned to the cave, Lei Jin was gone. Elder Brother was still unconscious, but his breathing was steady, so he should be fine. But where had Lei Jin gone? Moya set down the game and went out to look for him.

Although the rain had washed away much of the scent, Moya could still track Lei Jin’s recent footsteps. Following the trail, he realized Lei Jin had gone in the direction he had taken. Moya quickened his pace and soon saw Lei Jin running ahead. Just as he was about to call out, Lei Jin slipped and fell into the mud, struggling to get up.

Moya rushed over to help him up. “Why did you come out in this rain? You could have waited for me. Your arms are still injured…”

He stopped mid-sentence when he saw Lei Jin’s red-rimmed eyes glaring at him. As soon as Moya approached, Lei Jin kicked him.

Moya followed Lei Jin’s gaze and understood. The continuous heavy rain had caused a landslide, burying the forest he had hunted in under rocks and mud. Only the branches sticking out of the dirt showed that there had once been a dense forest there.

When he had left, Moya had specifically told Lei Jin he wouldn’t go far, just to the nearby woods, to avoid worrying him.

“I’m fine. I’m right here, Lei Jin. I’m here,” Moya said, pulling Lei Jin into a tight embrace and gently patting his back. At this moment, Moya felt truly at peace. Knowing that this person cared for him so deeply was more than enough.

Moya carried Lei Jin back, trudging through the mud. The rain continued to pour, but Moya’s heart was calm.

Lei Jin rested quietly on Moya’s back and called out, “Moya…”

Moya smiled and replied, “En?”

“Moya…”

“En…”

Every time Lei Jin called, Moya answered.

Lei Jin mumbled something else, but Moya didn’t catch it.

“What did you say?” Moya turned his head to ask.

Lei Jin grumbled, “Nothing. Just walk faster. After being out in the rain, I’ll probably catch a cold.”

Moya lowered his head, a sly smile playing on his lips. He hadn’t managed to hear it a second time, but since there was a first time, there would surely be a second.

Back in the cave, Moya quickly helped Lei Jin out of his wet clothes. This time, he didn’t tease him. Although a hot bath would have been ideal, they didn’t have the means for it, so he settled for drying Lei Jin off and helping him into the new clothes.

Moya stoked the fire and prepared the three pheasants he had caught, stuffing them with mushrooms he had picked along the way. He roasted them over the fire and boiled water in a bamboo tube.

“Are you cold?” Moya asked, sitting close to Lei Jin after finishing his tasks.

“A little,” Lei Jin admitted. He knew that in the wilderness, where medical supplies were scarce, it was better to be honest about any symptoms. Pretending to be fine would only cause more trouble.

Moya knelt beside Lei Jin, took his hands, and began to warm them with his breath, rubbing them gently until they were no longer cold.

“What are you doing?” Lei Jin asked in surprise as Moya moved to his feet.

“If your hands and feet are warm, your body won’t feel cold,” Moya explained, holding Lei Jin’s feet firmly in his hands.

But feet were even more sensitive than hands, and Lei Jin couldn’t stop trembling from the ticklish sensation. “It tickles, stop, it’s too ticklish!”

“Just wait a moment. It’ll feel better soon,” Moya insisted, holding Lei Jin’s feet steady.

True to his word, after a while, Lei Jin felt a warm sensation spreading from his feet throughout his body.

Seeing Lei Jin’s complexion improve, Moya smiled. “See? I told you it would work. Feeling warmer now?”

Lei Jin nodded, his eyes half-closed in contentment.

Moya moved to the other foot, continuing to massage it. Watching Lei Jin relax like a lazy cat, he said, “As long as you feel comfortable. When we’re old, I’ll still do this for you.”

Lei Jin’s drowsiness vanished at those words. He looked up at Moya with a complex expression, silent for a long time.

The pheasants weren’t ready yet, but the water had boiled. Moya washed his hands and Lei Jin’s, then poured two cups of hot water. He fed one to Lei Jin and added a pinch of salt to the other, blowing on it to cool it before helping Xiya sit up and drink.

“Is Xiya doing better?” Lei Jin asked.

“Not yet. Even though the venom wasn’t strong, he’ll need to sleep for a couple of days,” Moya said, setting the cup aside and letting Xiya lie back down.

Lei Jin vaguely remembered hearing that poisons often contained anesthetic components. Xiya’s deep sleep was probably due to that. And since Moya said it was normal, Lei Jin trusted him.

“Elder Brother’s body is even warmer than yours. Feel it,” Moya said, placing Xiya’s hand on Lei Jin’s.

It was the familiar warmth Lei Jin knew.

The cave was filled with the aroma of roasted pheasant. Moya first picked out the mushrooms from the pheasant’s belly and fed them to Lei Jin. The mushrooms, soaked in chicken fat, were tender and delicious.

Seeing Lei Jin enjoy the food, Moya leaned in and bit the other half of the mushroom Lei Jin was about to eat. The two of them playfully fought over the food, and in the end, Moya held Lei Jin’s head and thoroughly explored his mouth with his tongue, licking the oil from Lei Jin’s lips.

Like this, they continued eating, sharing bite by bite, for over half an hour until the meal was finished.

Xiya woke up once in the middle of it, saw that Moya had returned and Lei Jin was safe, then closed his eyes and fell back into a deep, peaceful sleep. Lei Jin tried to wake him a few times to eat, but Xiya didn’t stir. Moya had no choice but to continue feeding him salted water to maintain his strength.

Lei Jin was so worried that Xiya might not wake up that he got up several times during the night to check if he was still breathing. Only after confirming that Xiya was alive would Lei Jin return to sleep in Moya’s arms until dawn.

The only bedding in the cave was occupied by Xiya, so Moya couldn’t let Lei Jin sleep on the cold ground. Instead, he transformed into his beast form and curled around Lei Jin, using his belly as a warm cushion.

It was the first time Lei Jin had seen Moya’s beast form. The black panther was majestic, with sleek, shiny fur and an elegant build. But before sleep, Moya would often lick Lei Jin’s face, leaving him covered in saliva and ruining his dignified image.

At first, Lei Jin mentioned he had heard that a panther’s tongue had barbs that could scrape off flesh.

Hearing this, Moya, in his beast form, looked at Lei Jin with a mysterious glint in his large, round eyes and said, “If that were true, there would be no babies in the werebeast tribes.”

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

Lei Jin initially thought this meant that if it were true, the females would be licked to death, and no one would be left to have babies. It wasn’t until much later that Lei Jin truly understood what Moya meant by those words. But by then, it was too late for Lei Jin to do anything about it.

Lei Jin nestled into Moya’s embrace, feeling the soft, warm fur of his belly, and closed his eyes, falling into a peaceful sleep.

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The rain grew heavier, and Moya quickened his pace. As he approached the cave, he heard Lei Jin’s shouts. Instantly anxious, he ignored the lightning and thunder, transformed into his winged leopard form, and flew over. But what he saw stunned him: Lei Jin, half-naked, was pinned beneath his older brother, Xiya, whose head rested in the crook of Lei Jin’s neck. However, he quickly realized something was wrong—Xiya wasn’t moving, and Lei Jin’s voice didn’t sound like they were engaged in anything intimate.

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

Moya immediately understood that something had happened. He rushed over, crouched down, and placed a hand on Xiya’s shoulder, asking Lei Jin, “What happened?”

Lei Jin, frantic and unable to free himself from under Xiya due to his paralyzed arms, had been trying to help Xiya, whose hand was slowly turning black from a wound. Seeing Moya suddenly appear, Lei Jin didn’t react at all other than to urgently try to suck the venom from Xiya’s wound.

Moya, noticing the bite on Xiya’s hand, quickly grasped the situation. He grabbed Lei Jin’s arm and said, “No, you can’t do that. You have wounds on your lips.” He had already seen the bite marks on Lei Jin’s mouth.

“Moya…” Lei Jin finally recognized the person before him, as if grasping a lifeline. Though panicked, he quickly composed himself and said clearly, “Xiya was bitten by something. It’s been a while. You need to check him.”

“It’s a young blue-tailed lizard. Its venom isn’t too strong. I’ll suck the poison out for him,” Moya said, identifying the creature. He bent down to help.

“Wait, Moya. Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Lei Jin asked, recalling that sucking venom could be dangerous for the person doing it. He didn’t want to save one only to lose the other.

Moya’s eyes softened with a familiar warmth. He leaned in, kissed Lei Jin’s lips, and said, “I’ll be fine. I don’t have any wounds in my mouth.”

Soon, the blood from Xiya’s wound turned red from Moya’s first aid administrations, indicating the venom was gone.

“It’s clean now. He should be fine,” Moya said.

Seeing Xiya’s breathing stabilize, Lei Jin felt relieved.

Moya carried Xiya back to the cave and then returned to help Lei Jin.

“What happened to your arms?” Moya asked, noticing Lei Jin couldn’t use any strength in them.

“They’re injured,” Lei Jin said casually, downplaying it. Seeing Moya’s obvious concern, he added, “They’ll heal soon.” He didn’t want Moya to feel obligated or responsible for him.

Moya, however, remained silent, his eyes fixed on the scars on Lei Jin’s shoulders. The wounds had scabbed over but were still raw and gruesome.

Lei Jin looked into Moya’s eyes and saw a mix of emotions—guilt, gratitude, regret, and most of all, pain. He had never seen so much emotion in someone’s eyes before, and he actually understood it all.

“You think this is some kind of drama? A passionate embrace in the rain? It’s cold, and I’m not even wearing clothes,” Lei Jin said, breaking the tense atmosphere. He naturally had no sense of romance.

Moya, though confused by some of Lei Jin’s words, chose not to ask. He had enough experience with his papa to know not to ask lest he got scolded. He simply smiled, picked up the clothes from the ground, and handed them to Lei Jin. Then he scooped Lei Jin up in his arms.

“I told you I hate being carried like this. Are you trying to provoke me?” Lei Jin complained.

Ignoring him, Moya focused on carrying Lei Jin through the heavy rain.

“Damn it, Moya! Where are you putting your hands? I’ll break them!” Lei Jin yelled, feeling Moya’s hand slide suggestively over his backside.

“Did this place miss me?” Moya asked, his voice teasing despite his efforts to sound serious.

Lei Jin’s face darkened. He couldn’t believe those words actually came from Moya. What an utter rogue! With arms and now legs out of commission, he could only bite Moya’s neck hard, drawing blood.

Moya winced but didn’t stop him. When Lei Jin finally let go, Moya said lightly, “My papa taught me that blood debts must be repaid in blood.”

Lei Jin’s left eyelid twitched. Damn it, Roger, what kind of sons did you raise? he thought.

Meanwhile, far away, Roger sneezed as he stepped outside. “Someone must be cursing me. Probably Lei Jin,” he muttered. It could only be Lei Jin after all.

“It’s been almost two months. Why haven’t we heard anything from them?” An Sen asked, his lavender eyes filled with worry.

Roger looked north. 

“Don’t worry, Xiya and Moya will find Lei Jin. They care about him too much.” An Sen hugged his shoulder, comforting him.

That’s exactly why he was worried. If something happened to Lei Jin, Moya might never forgive himself, not to mention Xiya. Roger still recalled Moya’s words before he left. He was afraid they might come true. Besides, he couldn’t bear the thought of losing Lei Jin either.

“An Luo has gone to find Mingya. Mingya is almost an adult. You have to believe in his abilities. He’s a leopard werebeast, after all. He can handle most wild animals,” An Sen continued to reassure him.

Roger nodded, hoping they would all return safely. The house felt emptier and quieter without them.

Back in the cave, Moya lit a fire and hung their wet clothes to dry.

“Stay close to the fire. It’s warmer,” Moya said kindly.

“Then give me the new clothes to change into,” Lei Jin said, pointing to the bundle in the corner. Hao Chen had made those clothes, and Lei Jin had been saving them for fear of ruining them on the journey.

“Why change? These will dry soon,” Moya said, his eyes glinting with mischief. He pulled Lei Jin close, letting him rest his head on his lap.

Lei Jin found it comfortable and decided not to argue.

Moya kissed his forehead and then each of his fingertips.

“Did Berg hurt you?” Moya asked, playing with Lei Jin’s hair.

“Who’s Berg?” Lei Jin asked, though the name sounded familiar. Then it clicked. “Oh, that goldfish?”

Moya chuckled. The golden merfolk had been reduced to a goldfish in Lei Jin’s words. “Yes, that goldfish. Did he hurt you?”

“That sneaky coward,” Lei Jin spat. “Today’s been unlucky. Always getting attacked from behind.”

“Where did he hurt you?” Moya asked, flipping Lei Jin over to check his back. The swelling had gone down, but faint marks remained.

Berg, whatever issues we have, you shouldn’t have involved Lei Jin. This isn’t over, Moya thought.

“Are you trying to suffocate me?” Lei Jin complained, his face pressed against Moya’s chest. Worse, Moya wasn’t wearing clothes, and Lei Jin didn’t want things to escalate.

They had been together enough times to know where this could lead.

But ironically, Lei Jin’s breath as he spoke against Moya’s skin only made things worse. Moya’s body reacted visibly, and the head even bumped into Lei Jin’s lips. He quickly shut his mouth.

A familiar heated palm trailed down Lei Jin’s back, lingering on the red marks. After a moment, he said, “The clothes are dry. Put them on.”

After helping Lei Jin dress, Moya changed into his own dry clothes.

The atmosphere between them had grown charged again. Moya remained silent, so Lei Jin broke the silence. “Why hasn’t Xiya woken up yet?”

“Rest is the best way for werebeasts to heal. The blue-tailed lizard’s venom is concentrated in its eyes. The mouth venom is less severe, and this was just a young one, probably out hunting for the first time,” Moya explained. “But Elder Brother looks exhausted. He must have been overworking himself. This injury will force him to rest.”

Lei Jin looked at Xiya’s gaunt face, realizing how much Xiya had been pushing himself—caring for Lei Jin, searching for Moya, and not resting properly.

“You stay here with Elder Brother. I’ll go find some herbs,” Moya said suddenly, standing up.

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

Lei Jin glanced at the pouring rain outside. “What herbs are so urgent? Can’t you wait until the rain stops?”

“I need to find some stone orchid. It counteracts the blue-tailed lizard’s venom. Since we found one here, the herb should be nearby.”

“But you said Xiya would be fine.”

“It’s just a precaution.”

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Moya hadn’t exhaled for long before his ears caught the faint, distant sound of footsteps. This land of the underworld was eerily silent, like a graveyard. If not for the occasional swaying of the seaweed, Moya would have thought the seawater was completely still. After spending so much time in the darkness and silence, if he was forced to find a benefit it was that his hearing seemed to have improved.

So, even though the approaching person’s footsteps were light, muffled further by the thick mud and sand at the seabed, Moya was still able to detect them before they arrived. He loosely fastened the chains on his body, making them appear intact, though they would come undone with just a small movement. Choosing the most comfortable position, he leaned against the reef behind him, appearing relaxed and at ease.

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

Barefoot and dressed in a flowing white robe with a loose collar and wide hem, Berg seemed to be in a rather good mood. He smiled as soon as he arrived.

“Moya, I only have one request. Look, if you take me back to the Leopard Tribe, I’ll set you free. That’s all there is to it.”

Moya didn’t respond.

“What, you don’t believe me? I even brought the key.” Berg dangled a long, thin black object in his hand.

Trust was never the issue between them—it was simply a coincidence that they met, a coincidence that he had saved him. Besides, given how things had escalated, no matter what Berg’s urgency to leave was, Moya had no intention of cooperating.

Moya lifted his eyelids slightly, signaling him to leave.

Berg knew Moya would never forgive him, but he hadn’t expected him to be so indifferent, not even sparing him a glance. He had originally planned to say something soft to ease the situation, but seeing Moya’s attitude, he lost interest. Taking two steps forward, he spread his palm open in front of Moya and smirked.

“Look at this. You should know whose it is.”

Only then did Moya look up. In Berg’s palm were a few strands of glossy black hair. Even with his eyes closed, Moya could recognize them as Lei Jin’s—after all, scent never lies. His gaze locked onto Berg.

“Where is he?”

Moya’s deep green eyes shimmered in the dark sea, giving the illusion of profound tenderness. But Berg knew it was just that—an illusion. No matter how real it seemed, it couldn’t change the fact that Moya wanted to kill him right now.

“Your big brother and that female care about you a lot—they actually tracked you all the way here. But they’ll never reach the seabed without the help of us merfolk. And if they stay here too long, who knows, I might just go and strangle that female you keep thinking about. You should know how easy that is for a male.” Berg idly scattered the hair into the water and continued, “Looks like your female was pretty badly hurt. When I hit him, he couldn’t even get up from the ground.”

The calm in Moya’s eyes finally shattered upon hearing this, leaving only an icy, bone-chilling hatred. He no longer bothered to hide it. He shook off the chains on his body, stood up, and asked, “How do I get out of here?”

Berg instinctively stepped back, shocked that Moya had managed to break free. But before he could escape, Moya grabbed him by the throat.

“How do I get out?” Moya’s grip tightened. “If you don’t answer, you’ll be the first to die.”

Berg gasped for air, his hands clawing at Moya’s grip in a desperate struggle. But Moya didn’t loosen his hold in the slightest. In that moment, Berg knew Moya truly wanted to kill him, and a strange sense of calm washed over him.

“I won’t tell you,” he forced out. “If I die, you’ll never leave either. We’ll both die here.”

Moya’s grip tightened, but at the last moment, he let go. As Berg collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, Moya said coldly, “You should be grateful to my papa. He’s the only reason you’re still alive.”

His papa had taught him that unless it was a matter of life and death, he should not kill other werebeasts recklessly. And certainly not females.

Since the normal way out was blocked, he would have to find another way.

“Moya, you can’t go there! That’s the true Nether Sea—no one has ever come out of there alive!” Berg shouted desperately as Moya turned and walked toward the ruins at the seabed.

But it was too late. Moya’s slender figure quickly vanished into the eerie shadows of the ruins.

Behind the crumbling walls lay a deep-sea trench, overgrown with thick underwater forests and massive coral reefs. The seawater was completely still, the temperature plummeting, and visibility was poor. The hazy outlines of a sunken city loomed in the murky depths. Many of its structures had already collapsed into the sand. Moya reached out and brushed against a building, feeling a layer of brittle crust crumble away beneath his fingers, revealing intricate murals beneath. Though they were too damaged to decipher, that wasn’t his concern.

Estimating his direction, he moved toward the center, stopping in a dense cluster of stone pillars. This should be the temple. He still remembered the maps his papa had drawn—this so-called city’s layout was almost identical.

“In every temple, there is a passage beneath it. The key lies at the third star point of the engraved track,” Moya recalled his papa’s words. But he had used a black stone to activate it, and he had nothing now. He could only try his luck.

Running his fingers over what seemed to be the temple’s gate, he found a stone lodged at the third star point. Temples were always built facing north, so he turned the stone from east to west.

With a deafening boom, the entire seabed trembled.

“Moya!” Berg could no longer hesitate. He rushed inside, but in the swirling darkness, there was no trace of Moya.

Back at the riverbank, Xiya listened silently as Lei Jin finished speaking. Without a word, he pulled Lei Jin close, tipped his chin up, and studied him for a moment before pressing a fiery kiss onto his lips.

Lei Jin frowned but quickly regained his senses, biting down hard. The metallic taste of blood spread between them.

“If you want to do it, just do it,” Lei Jin sneered. “No need for these tricks. Disgusting.”

He saw the flicker of hurt in Xiya’s expression but didn’t care. He needed to do something—anything—to smother the suffocating frustration in his chest.

“…Forget it. You should rest. I’ll make some fish soup. You’re still injured, so you need the nourishment. There are clouds gathering and it will likely start to rain. Wait here for me while I cook and then clean up the cave otherwise we won’t have a place to stay for the night.”

Xiya rambled, crouching down to clean the remaining fish.

Lei Jin exhaled sharply, then suddenly smirked. “Fine, Xiya. You’re the one who rejected me today. Don’t you dare touch me in the future.”

“The firewood is running low. I’ll go gather some later,” Xiya muttered, his golden hair falling over his face, concealing his expression. His fingers, seemingly pricked by a fishbone, briefly went to his lips.

Lei Jin was about to retort when he suddenly froze, his eyes widening in fear.

Because not far behind Xiya, hidden in the grass, a pair of blood-red eyes stared at them. A green-scaled creature, its long tongue flicking out, crept closer. It was only a meter away. Its vision seemed to be weak, it’s short limbs crawled very slowly, but it was still without a doubt moving in Xiya’s direction.

“Xiya, don’t move.” Lei Jin’s voice softened unnaturally.

“What?”

Xiya found Lei Jin’s sudden change in demeanor strange. He looked up at him, only to see Lei Jin staring intently behind him. Instinctively, he was about to turn around.

“Don’t turn around, Xiya.”

Lei Jin’s hands were trembling with fear. In the natural world, anything with such bright colors was bound to be extremely poisonous. He didn’t know what it was, but he knew it was dangerous.

He would rather it be staring at him instead.

At this moment, he finally admitted to himself—Xiya was no longer someone he could live without. If something were to happen to Xiya now…

Unconsciously, he took a step forward. The creature, hearing the movement, shifted its red eyes toward him.

So it really does track by sound.

He took another step. Sure enough, the creature adjusted its direction and began crawling toward him.

“Xiya, I need some time alone. Don’t come over and bother me.”

Lei Jin spoke with a calm expression, then immediately turned and ran.

The creature, which had been slow before, suddenly darted through the grass with astonishing speed. The moment it rounded a bend, it sprang into the air.

Lei Jin caught a glimpse of it from the corner of his eye, his mind in chaos.

At least Xiya is safe.

But I still haven’t found Moya.

Just as the creature was about to reach him, a shadow flashed before his eyes.

Lei Jin was tackled to the ground, but the pain he expected never came. Instead, the familiar warmth surrounding him told him exactly who it was—Xiya.

At the same time, Xiya swung his right hand fiercely, slamming the creature onto a nearby rock. It was instantly smashed to pieces.

The sky had darkened, thick clouds gathering overhead.

Xiya hovered over Lei Jin, staring at him without saying a word. His hands worked hurriedly, stripping Lei Jin’s clothing, his palms running feverishly over Lei Jin’s body.

Suddenly, a torrential downpour began, but it couldn’t quench the fire that had already ignited between them.

Lei Jin, still caught in the adrenaline of near-death, responded to Xiya’s passion with equal intensity. His breathless moans echoed in the rain as he clung to Xiya, craving more. It felt as if Xiya kissed him everywhere, over and over, searching for more.

“Give me, Xiya…”

Lei Jin parted his legs, hooking them around Xiya’s waist, desperate to confirm that this person was still here with him.

“This is the first time, what a loss.”

Xiya chuckled tiredly, giving Lei Jin a soft smile before resting his head against the crook of his neck.

“Xiya…”

Something suddenly occurred to Lei Jin. He looked down at Xiya’s hand, still resting on his waist.

There were two deep bite marks on Xiya’s right hand. The blood seeping out had already turned black.

After what felt like an eternity in darkness, Moya finally broke through the surface of the sea.

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

It was pouring. Thick mist rolled across the water. He closed his eyes briefly. The dim lighting was still a little painful after so long without sunlight.

Swimming toward shore, he pushed his wet hair out of his face. He thought back to his old cave—it was the closest to the sea.

His older brother and Lei Jin would probably have chosen there too.

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In the following days, Xiya spent a significant amount of time patrolling the sea, but the situation remained grim. Not only were there no signs of merfolk, but there wasn’t even a single scale to be found. The vastness of the ocean and the fact that merfolk lived deep beneath the waves meant that unless they chose to reveal themselves, it would be nearly impossible to find them.

Lei Jin spent his days waiting on the rocks by the shore for Xiya to return. Although there were no dangerous beasts around, Xiya still worried about Lei Jin wandering too far.

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

It was almost noon, and the sun was scorching. The sea sparkled with blinding reflections, making it hard to keep one’s eyes open. Lei Jin felt a sticky sensation in his palm—he was holding the last few pieces of dried fruit Moya had left behind. He didn’t know what kind of mood Moya had been in when he washed and dried those small fruits, but now, thinking about it, his chest felt heavy, as if a stone were lodged there. It didn’t hurt, but it was suffocating. A shadow fell over him, and Lei Jin knew Xiya had returned.

“Still nothing. I expanded the search area this morning,” Xiya said, shaking his head under Lei Jin’s hopeful gaze.

“Let’s go back and eat,” Lei Jin said, knowing Xiya had done his best. After a morning under the harsh sun, Xiya’s face was slightly red, possibly sunburned.

Xiya had already tidied up the cave, making it much cleaner. They had placed a large tree branch at the entrance to keep animals out.

But today, when they returned, they noticed the branch had been moved. Though it wasn’t obvious, the keen instincts of a werebeast and Lei Jin’s alertness told them someone had been inside. The strong smell of smoke confirmed it. Exchanging a glance, they moved quietly toward the entrance, but there was no sound from within.

Xiya pulled Lei Jin behind him and kicked the branch aside. When they entered, they were speechless. The cave was empty, but everything had been thrown around. Even the dry grass on the floor had been set on fire and then doused with water, leaving the ground soggy and difficult to walk on. It was clear someone had come to cause trouble, as nothing was missing.

“Can you tell who was here?” Lei Jin asked, though it was obvious it had to be a person. No animal would set fire to things and then try to disguise the entrance.

“I don’t know. It’s a strange scent, one I’ve never encountered before,” Xiya replied, puzzled. They hadn’t seen anyone since arriving at the seaside, so who could they have possibly offended? But if it wasn’t an enemy, what did it mean? Xiya sniffed again and added, “But…”

“But what?”

“There’s a strong smell of seawater.” He wasn’t sure if it came from the intruder, as the cave already had a strong sea scent due to its proximity to the ocean. But this time, it felt different.

“Could it be the merfolk?” Lei Jin suddenly thought of a possibility. If the merfolk had taken Moya from here, they might know about this place and could have returned.

“It’s possible,” Xiya nodded. But they had returned too late; otherwise, they might have caught the intruder.

Lei Jin shared the same regret. If he had stayed behind, he might have gotten some clues.

“Looks like we’ll have to eat lunch outside today,” Xiya said, helping Lei Jin sit on a shaded rock. He gathered some dry wood nearby, skinned a wild goat, sliced it, seasoned it, and set it over the fire to roast.

“You rest here. I’ll go fetch some water to clean the cave, or we won’t be able to stay there tonight,” Xiya said, flipping the goat and making a few more cuts to ensure it cooked evenly.

After Lei Jin nodded, Xiya went into the cave and brought out two large wooden buckets he had carved from tree trunks. They were rough but functional for carrying water. They weren’t planning to settle here permanently, so there was no need for anything fancy.

“If anything happens, shout for me. I’ll come right away,” Xiya said, repeating a phrase he had said many times before.

Lei Jin nodded again, slightly exasperated, and Xiya finally left.

The scent of roasting meat filled the air as the goat fat dripped onto the fire, sizzling.

Lei Jin heard movement behind him but didn’t have time to react. A powerful strike sent him to the ground. His last thought before losing consciousness was, damn, this isn’t even my zodiac year. Why am I so unlucky?

The intruder, a merfolk with a large, shimmering tail, approached Lei Jin and flipped him over. He pinched Lei Jin’s cheeks hard, leaving red marks, and muttered, “You’re not bad-looking, but I don’t see what’s so special about you. I knocked you out with one hit. I don’t know what he sees in you.”

Berf had been forbidden by his dad from coming ashore recently, as they had discovered a werebeast searching the sea. Berg assumed it was Moya’s older brother, and this must be their mate. After a quick look, he decided to leave. He remembered the stream wasn’t far, and the werebeast would return soon. He wasn’t sure he could win a fight, so it was better not to risk it.

“Leaving so soon?” Lei Jin’s lazy voice came from the ground.

“You’re not unconscious?” Berg was surprised. He had used considerable force, though not his full strength, fearing it might kill the fragile female.

“Where’s Moya?” Lei Jin asked, glancing at the golden tail and confirming the merfolk’s identity. He had no patience for small talk.

“Oh, since I’m here, I should bring him something,” Berg said with a smirk. He turned back, grabbed Lei Jin, and yanked out a handful of hair.

Lei Jin winced in pain but kicked Berg and repeated, “Where’s Moya?”

“So eager?” Berg sneered. “I’m not telling you. No more chit-chat.” With that, he leaped several meters away.

Lei Jin’s back throbbed with pain. He had indeed been knocked out momentarily but had shifted slightly to avoid a critical hit. The sharp pain from being pinched had jolted him awake.

From Berg’s words, it was clear Moya was in his hands.

“Lei Jin!” Xiya returned to find Lei Jin on the ground. He dropped the buckets and rushed over.

“Tss!” Lei Jin hissed in pain as Xiya touched his back.

“What happened?” Xiya asked, lifting Lei Jin’s shirt to reveal a large, swollen bruise stretching from his shoulder to his waist.

“That merfolk was here,” Lei Jin said simply, not wanting to talk much due to the burning pain.

“He did this to you?”

Lei Jin nodded.

Seeing Lei Jin bite his lip to suppress the pain, Xiya felt a surge of anger. He wanted to kill the merfolk.

The medicinal herbs Moya had left behind finally came in handy. Xiya retrieved the bag from the cave, thankful they had hidden it under a rock to protect it from animals. In his rush, he chewed the herbs in his mouth and applied them to Lei Jin’s wound.

Though it still hurt, Lei Jin had endured worse, like the time with the dragon bird. He could handle this.

With Lei Jin injured, they couldn’t eat the roasted goat. He remembered his papa saying that eating lamb while injured was bad. Fortunately, Xiya had caught some fish while fetching water. He quickly cleaned them and set them to roast, replacing the goat.

Lei Jin recounted his brief interaction with the merfolk to Xiya, concluding, “Moya is definitely in his hands. There’s no doubt about it.”

“Moya should be safe for now, but how do we rescue him?” Xiya frowned. If only they could explore underwater, but that was impossible.

Even with this knowledge, they were at a loss. Neither of them knew what to do next.

“It might not taste as good as yours, but it’ll do,” Xiya said, handing Lei Jin a roasted fish. He blew on it to cool it down before offering it.

Lei Jin took a bite. The fish was tender but full of bones.

Xiya noticed and quickly said, “Spit it out. Let me pick out the bones first.”

After Leij Jin spat it out, Xiya washed his hands clean and carefully picked through the fish meat with a small wooden stick, one by one. He didn’t forget to glance up at Lei Jin and say, “It’ll be done soon, just wait a little. Or should I get you some dried fruit to eat first?”

Honestly, weren’t werebeast usually too rough-handed for such delicate work? Yet, Xiya lowered his head and focused intently on the task.

Lei Jin licked the blood from his lips, tasting the bitter saltiness, and said, “No need, Xiya. You don’t have to pick through it. I’m not very hungry—just get me some hot water to drink.”

“Hot water? I already boiled some,” Xiya said, pointing to a bamboo tube buried near the fire. “It’s steaming. It should be ready. I’ll get it for you.” Noticing Lei Jin preferred hot water, Xiya always made sure to have some ready.

Xiya poured the water between two bamboo cups to cool it.

“Here, it’s just right,” Xiya said with a smile, handing it to Lei Jin.

“I don’t want water. I want to rest,” Lei Jin suddenly turned away, unable to bear Xiya’s attentiveness.

“But you haven’t eaten. If you don’t want fish, I can make some fish soup,” Xiya insisted, concerned about Lei Jin’s injury.

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

“Enough, Xiya,” Lei Jin’s usually charming peach-blossom eyes turned cold. His frustration boiled over, and harsh words spilled out: “Enough, Xiya. Really, enough. Stop bothering me. I agreed to return to the Leopard Tribe, but that doesn’t mean I agreed to anything else. You should understand—I’m only going back because you said Chunji can heal my arms. As for the rest, don’t even think about it. If you think I owe you something for taking care of me, fine. That’s fair. Let’s just get it over with. Isn’t that what you want? To have me? Why bother pretending? Just say it. I can’t fight back now, and it’s not like it’s the first time.”

With a clack, Moya finally unlocked the last chain around his body and let out a long sigh of relief…

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Upon learning about the merfolk, Xiya and Lei Jin finally had a clear goal. Originally, Xiya had planned to let Hao Yang take Lei Jin back to the Tiger Tribe first while he rushed to the seaside to assess the situation. He was prepared for trouble, as it was a fact that Moya hadn’t been able to make it to their meeting spot. Given the uncertain circumstances, he naturally didn’t want to risk bringing Lei Jin along.

But if Lei Jin were the type to obediently follow orders, he wouldn’t be Lei Jin. Xiya didn’t dare push too hard, as he was well aware of Lei Jin’s stubbornness.

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

To save time, Xiya transformed into his beast form, using his tail to lift Lei Jin onto his back. They flew toward the sea, but even so, it took them over a day to reach their destination. They only stopped twice along the way. Xiya roasted the remaining dried meat until it was crispy and placed it beside Lei Jin, who could easily eat it by leaning forward. The two stops were mainly for them to drink some water.

By the time they arrived at the seaside, it was already evening. Half of the fiery red sun had sunk below the horizon. The ancient sea, untouched by development or pollution, was a clear, deep blue. The golden, soft sand, the white rolling waves, the seabirds circling the coastal cliffs, and even the dolphins leaping out of the water were all bathed in an orange-red glow.

“This is the primitive beauty long lost in the cracks of Earth’s civilization,” Lei Jin suddenly recalled a phrase Roger had once said. He felt a sense of pride for remembering such a profound statement, but the thought of Moya quickly dampened his mood.

Xiya flew low over the sea with Lei Jin on his back. A small blue dolphin leaped up, its head brushing against Lei Jin’s foot. When no one paid it any attention, it kept chasing them, jumping up repeatedly. Lei Jin thought to himself, no wonder dolphins in aquariums love balancing balls—they must really enjoy this kind of play.

“No sign of any merfolk,” Xiya said as they landed on a beach. He helped Lei Jin down and frowned at the calm sea.

“Are you sure they’re in this area?” Lei Jin couldn’t help but ask. The sea was vast, and who knew where the merfolk might have hidden Moya? Lei Jin was convinced that Moya had been captured; otherwise, he would have returned home by now.

“After parting ways with Moya at the river mouth, I headed north to the Tiger Tribe, while Moya went east along the river. If Moya encountered a merfolk, it would have been in this area. Although I’ve never seen the merfolk, according to the continent’s legends, merfolk live in tribes, so this part of the sea should be their gathering place,” Xiya analyzed logically.

Lei Jin agreed with his reasoning, but the current situation was that if the merfolk didn’t show themselves, they had no way of finding them.

“If only the little guy were here. At least he could ask the seabirds or dolphins, or even catch a fish to question,” Lei Jin muttered. Even though he knew Mingya was a werebeast, he still couldn’t help referring to him as “the little guy.” In his heart, Mingya was still that mischievous, lovable little guy.

Xiya looked thoughtful. “Talking to fish would be difficult,” he said. Ordinary fish didn’t make sounds, unless Mingya had somehow mastered fish language.

Having confirmed their location, the next step was to search for clues. They combed the nearby beaches but found nothing. They had only hoped for a stroke of luck, knowing full well that the tides would have washed away any traces.

By the time they finished their search, it was completely dark. The tide was rising, and the water had already reached Lei Jin’s calves. A large wave surged forward, causing Lei Jin to lose his balance. He stumbled, nearly falling into the water, but Xiya quickly grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into his arms.

Finally, they found a cave entrance a short distance from the shore. But just as they were about to enter, Xiya suddenly stopped.

“What’s wrong? Can’t we stay in this cave?” Lei Jin asked. They had encountered caves before during their travels, and werebeast could usually tell by smell whether a cave was safe. He remembered once when he had tried to enter a seemingly dry cave, only for Xiya to pull him back in alarm. Later, he learned it was an antlion’s nest—a place where even a wild ox could be reduced to bone dust. Since then, he had made it a habit to ask Xiya’s opinion.

“Moya has been here,” Xiya said with certainty.

“Then let’s go in and check,” Lei Jin said, his heart lifting slightly. But as he took a few steps toward the entrance, Xiya added, “He’s probably not inside now.” Xiya had caught the scent of Moya’s blood, confirming that something had indeed happened to him.

Lei Jin entered the dark cave, feeling that it was quite spacious. Xiya followed, helping Lei Jin sit down before pulling out a flint to light some dry branches and leaves piled in the corner. The cave was soon illuminated, revealing a scene of chaos. It looked as though a fierce fight had taken place, with dried grass scattered everywhere, some of it stained with blood.

Lei Jin’s heart pounded. After several attempts, he finally managed to speak. “Xiya, Moya, he…”

This was the first time Lei Jin had mentioned Moya’s name in days.

Xiya, holding a thin branch, stoked the fire and said, “Don’t worry. Moya’s in trouble, but it doesn’t seem life-threatening. There’s very little of his blood here.” His brother wasn’t one to be easily subdued, and while Moya was injured, his attackers likely hadn’t fared much better.

“En,” Lei Jin acknowledged, indicating he had heard Xiya’s words.

Out of the corner of his eye, Xiya noticed Lei Jin’s visible relief. His feelings were mixed—on one hand, he was glad Lei Jin had found something to care about in this world, as it might make him less likely to leave so decisively. On the other hand, he couldn’t help wishing Lei Jin would show the same concern for him.

But now wasn’t the time for such thoughts. Moya was in trouble, and Xiya needed to focus on that. Besides, as Hao Chen had said, Lei Jin had already been treating him better and was no longer so resistant to his presence. Things were moving in a positive direction.

Lei Jin, unaware of Xiya’s inner turmoil, was busy examining the cave for any clues Moya might have left. Soon, a small cloth bundle hidden under some weeds in the corner caught his attention.

“Xiya, what’s this?” Lei Jin nudged it with his foot, revealing the bundle.

“It’s Moya’s bag,” Xiya recognized it immediately. Werebeast always carried some food and medicine when hunting, just in case. Their papa didn’t know how to make these bags; they had been commissioned from Uncle Su Rui next door.

“Uncle Su Rui has a childlike heart. My bag has a little sparrow embroidered on the corner, and Moya’s has a rabbit,” Xiya explained. Sure enough, a corner of the bag had a rabbit with buck teeth, looking rather fierce.

Lei Jin could imagine Moya’s expressionless face hiding his disdain for the rabbit. Moya, where are you now? Lei Jin sighed inwardly.

“There’s a bag of dried fruit,” Xiya handed it to Lei Jin. He picked up some clumps of grass-like plants and sniffed them. “These are herbs for stopping bleeding and relieving pain. This falcon grass can stop even the heaviest bleeding instantly when applied. But it only grows in the crevices of cliffs, guarded by giant falcons. It’s not easy to obtain. I wonder how Moya got it.”

Lei Jin turned away, gazing into the deep night outside. After a long pause, he said, “He knew we were together.” It wasn’t a question but a realization that had been forming in his mind.

“The second night we were together, Moya came,” Xiya admitted, deciding not to hide it any longer. His grip on the herbs tightened.

Lei Jin remembered that night. By the end, he had lost all reason, consumed by passion as he and Xiya tangled together. Moya had been standing outside the door the entire time.

Lei Jin pressed his forehead against the cold stone wall, trying to calm himself. His mind was a mess, and he couldn’t make sense of how things had come to this?

Xiya’s care towards him hadn’t gone unnoticed. Lei Jin wasn’t made of wood; he could feel it. Throughout their journey, even in the Tiger Tribe, Xiya had taken care of everything without a word from him, treating him with meticulous care. In the past, Lei Jin wouldn’t have minded adding another to his list of lovers. Maybe even coax Mingya into being more obedient and eating out of the pam of his hand as well. But now he didn’t want to do that.

That night, Lei Jin only ate some dried fruit. Xiya gathered the scattered dry grass and spread it out again. Lei Jin lay down and seemed to fall asleep quickly.

Xiya found some half-cooked meat in the cave but, seeing Lei Jin asleep, had no appetite. He decided to rest and deal with everything the next day.

As Xiya lay down beside Lei Jin, he felt Lei Jin’s body stiffen slightly before he casually rolled away.

In the pitch-black depths, Moya had no idea how many days had passed. Every so often, someone would drop food—raw fish, shrimp, and shellfish. This was the twenty-second time. Moya used a stone to pry open a shell, forcing himself to swallow the slimy contents. The taste of the sea was overwhelming. Although werebeast sometimes ate raw meat, it didn’t mean they enjoyed raw seafood. Moreover, something had been done to his body. As a leopard werebeast, he shouldn’t have been able to survive underwater, yet here he was, breathing seawater as easily as air.

Over the past few days, he had noticed small holes in the chains around his ankles and waist. Instinct told him these holes were the key to freeing himself, but they were too small for even his thinnest finger. He had been busy grinding a bone needle from a shell to try and pick the locks. It was tedious work, and often, just as he was about to succeed, the shell would shatter, rendering it useless.

He had to be extra careful. The current needle was the most promising yet—just a little more, and he might be able to unlock the chains.

Moya was grateful for his solitary upbringing. His two dads had focused all their attention on his papa. His eldest brother was An Sen’s child, and his youngest brother was An Luo’s. Only he resembled his papa, with no trace of either dad. Though they treated him equally, he had never dared to act as freely as his brothers, who could openly seek affection from their dads.

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

If anyone else had been trapped in this dark, silent place for so long, they might have gone mad. But Moya had plenty of time to think—mostly about his papa and Lei Jin. He wondered how they were doing. Sometimes he thought that with his two dads, his papa would be fine, and with his brothers, Lei Jin might not need him as much either.

The thought sent a chill through him. The oppressive darkness was clearly affecting his mind. He couldn’t let such thoughts take root. He needed to conserve his energy, as he sensed something even more sinister lurking beyond the ruins.

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Moya woke up to the salty sea breeze, his first sensation being a splitting headache. He instinctively raised a hand to rub his temples for relief, only to find that something seemed to be pressing down on his arm. After a few failed attempts to move it, he finally looked down and was stunned to discover that Berg was lying in his arms, his warm breath against Moya’s neck. What shocked him even more was that neither of them was wearing any clothes.

Moya felt his headache worsen. He pushed Berg away and sat up.

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Berg’s body hit the ground, and his delicate brows furrowed slightly as he slowly opened his golden eyes. Seeing Moya with his back turned, putting on his clothes, a deeply affectionate smile appeared in his gaze. He didn’t seem to mind the current situation at all. Crossing his legs and shifting his posture lazily, he said, “What’s the rush? Still eager to leave?”

Moya didn’t turn around. He fastened the last knot of his clothing before finally facing Berg and asking, “What happened last night?”

Berg smiled nonchalantly. “Isn’t it just as you see?” He openly revealed the marks all over his body—bruises of various shades, especially concentrated on his chest and inner thighs.

Wait… Moya suddenly noticed something he had overlooked—Berg’s fishtail was gone, replaced by a pair of long, slender legs.

“Your legs?” Moya asked.

“You probably don’t know this yet, do you? Once we merfolks mate with someone, our tails can freely transform into legs. Just like how werebeasts, after reaching adulthood, can shift between their beast and human forms at will. We were together last night, so now I can walk on land. That means I can return to the Leopard Tribe with you,” Berg revealed his plan without hesitation.

Moya tried hard to recall what had happened the previous night. He only remembered that after Berg left, he was about to sleep when Berg suddenly returned in the rain, his clothes still dripping wet and looking exhausted. Just as Moya was about to speak, he felt a sharp sting from something Berg was holding, and soon after, he lost consciousness. He had no memory of anything beyond that.

But as for whether he had actually been intimate with Berg… maybe the old Moya could have been fooled. However, after experiencing it multiple times with Lei Jin, his body’s senses wouldn’t deceive him—he was sure nothing had happened last night. Thinking of Lei Jin’s tight, hot entrance, he even felt a reaction.

Just bear with it for now. When I get back, I’ll make it up to you—make it up to you plenty. Moya silently comforted his most intimate little brother.

Berg took Moya’s silence as a lack of words. He then said, “Don’t worry, I won’t make things difficult for you. I’ll just go back to your tribe with you.”

“I already have a mate, so that won’t be possible.” Moya finally looked up. There was a rare smile on his lips, but his eyes were as cold as ice.

Berg hadn’t expected Moya to remain so composed at this moment, and he panicked internally. He was certain that Moya had been unconscious—after all, Purple Starfish venom never failed. A sufficient dose could even knock out a giant orca. When he had undressed Moya last night, the latter hadn’t resisted at all, right? Berg tried to reassure himself.

While he was lost in thought, Moya picked up the clothes from the ground and tossed them to him. Though neither of them cared much about nudity, having a naked man in front of him was still an eyesore—aside from Lei Jin, he had no interest in seeing anyone else. If Lei Jin decided to walk around naked every day, though, Moya wouldn’t mind.

Not only would he not mind, but he would probably welcome it warmly, tackle him onto the bed, and make love until the world crumbled and spring flowers bloomed.

Berg brushed his golden hair and laughed freely. “I haven’t been to many places, but I do know some of the continent’s customs. If a werebeast and a female have relations, and the female agrees, they must hold a ceremony.” Berg didn’t intend to provoke Moya, but the truth was that in this situation, if the female consented, a ceremony was mandatory—since females were precious, after all.

“Berg, let’s be clear. You and I both know that nothing happened between us, let alone a ceremony. Also, you’re a male merfolk, not a female, so this rule doesn’t apply to us.” Moya didn’t want to waste any more time. Even though it was still raining outside, and the chances of his brother and Lei Jin leaving the tribe were slim, he’d rather brave the rain to meet them at the river than continue this entanglement with Berg.

“Do you know why golden merfolk are the most revered in the Merfolk Tribe?” Berg asked, not waiting for an answer before continuing. “It’s because golden female merfolk have the highest fertility rates. But there’s another reason—all golden male merfolk are intersex.”

This was a closely guarded secret of the Merfolk Tribe, yet Berg spoke of it carelessly, his eyes filled with mockery. In years when golden female merfolk were scarce, golden male merfolk were forcibly used as substitutes.

“You’re saying…” Moya frowned as he grasped the meaning behind his words.

“I’m saying I can also be female. If you want children, this body has that ability too.” Berg pointed to his stomach.

“If it’s not his, I don’t care for it.” The “he” Moya referred to needed no explanation.

“I’ve never been rejected like this before.” Berg finally felt a chill and put on the clothes Moya had thrown at him. “Even after this, I still can’t keep you. Now I’m even more curious about your mate—what charm does he have to make you all so utterly devoted?”

“We know his worth, and that’s enough.” At the thought of Lei Jin, Moya’s gaze finally softened.

“How can you be sure I’m not better than him if you haven’t tried?” Berg stood up and leaned closer, but Moya swiftly dodged. Last night, it wasn’t that he hadn’t wanted to go through with it—it was just that, after Moya passed out, there had been no reaction at all. He could have fucked Moya, but that would have completely burned their bridges, and that wasn’t what he wanted. He had hoped to deceive Moya, but to his dismay, Moya wasn’t falling for it at all.

Hearing that Berg’s words indirectly confirmed they hadn’t done anything, Moya no longer bothered to waste time arguing. He picked up a small bundle from the corner of the cave—it contained medicinal herbs he had gathered for Lei Jin and dried fruits he had prepared for the journey. Everything was packed and ready to go.

Berg watched him silently packing up and smirked meaningfully. “It’s not enough for just you to say nothing happened. Many others will soon believe otherwise.”

As soon as Berg finished speaking, Moya felt a strange sense of foreboding. Despite the torrential rain outside, his sharp werebeast hearing picked up the sound of many people rapidly approaching.

Moya’s expression remained indifferent, but he knew things had taken a turn for the worse. This Berg was truly a plague—whoever got close, trouble would follow them. The approaching crowd moved swiftly and in large numbers; escaping now was impossible. His mind raced, searching for a way out, but before he could come up with a plan, the cave entrance was suddenly filled with a dense throng of merfolk. Their scales gleamed in an array of colors—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet—all present.

Berg intimately clung to an older golden mermaid at the front and shot Moya a provocative glance. Kicking his new legs playfully, he said, “Dad, I can walk on land now.”

The middle-aged golden merfolk was clearly not in the same good mood as his son. Seeing his son’s legs exposed beneath his clothing, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. His mouth opened and closed several times before he finally choked out the crucial question:

“Who’s on top and who’s on bottom?”

Berg was completely unprepared for his dad’s bluntness. The sudden question made him stumble on his still-unfamiliar legs, nearly falling over.

Alright then. Old Mr. Shell decided there was no need to ask any further. His son was already standing so unsteadily after being fucked, what else was there to question? He waved his hand to the people behind him and then pointed at Moya.

“Take him back to the Merfolk Tribe, lock him up in the Nether Sea, and never let me see him again!”

He was furious. He had raised his precious son with such effort, only for him to be “eaten” just like that. At the very least, they could have come and greeted him first! Not that it would have made a difference—he still wouldn’t have agreed!

“Dad?” Berg secretly pinched his dad’s arm. This wasn’t how the script was supposed to go! Wasn’t he supposed to barge in and say: Since my son has already been taken, you must hold a ceremony together? His dad had obviously rewritten the plot!

But at this point, Mr. Shell had no interest in playing along with his son’s lines. The mere thought of his son being “eaten” had already sent half of his souls fleeing and the other half ascending to heaven.

Moya glanced at the dozens of strong merfolk behind Mr. Shell. Their tails gleamed with scales as sharp as blades. To fight or not to fight? Winning was out of the question. But if he didn’t fight, he’d end up locked at the bottom of the sea.

Screw it. He still had to get back to see Lei Jin. He didn’t have time for a seawater bath.

The outcome was inevitable. Moya was indeed a male werebeast, but the merfolk were also males, and they had numbers on their side.

When Moya next regained consciousness, he found himself at the bottom of the pitch-black sea. Once his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he realized the scenery was quite spectacular—ruins stretched in every direction, with thick seaweed growing wildly between the cracks in the rocks, swaying gently in the water. Apart from that, there wasn’t a single living thing in sight. No wonder they call this the Nether Sea.

Thick chains bound his waist and ankles, though his hands were free. Not that they were much use—other than plucking some seaweed, there wasn’t much he could do.

But he needed to figure out a way out of here. Moya surveyed his surroundings and began to think calmly.

Meanwhile, Xiya and Lei Jin had been waiting at the river mouth for days, but there was still no sign of Moya. Xiya was growing anxious. The markings Moya left behind had clearly indicated their usual meeting spot.

So why hasn’t he arrived yet?

Moya was always reliable—it made no sense for him to leave them waiting like this. Xiya had a nagging feeling that something had happened, but the jungle was vast, and he had no way of knowing where Moya was. If he went searching now, they could easily end up missing each other.

So, he forced himself to be patient. Thinking that if there’s still no news in two days, he’ll take Lei Jin back to the Tiger Tribe first and then search for Moya alone.

Xiya didn’t dare leave Lei Jin alone. Every time he went hunting, he brought Lei Jin with him. As for Lei Jin, he never asked a word about Moya’s whereabouts, acting as if he didn’t care at all. But Xiya noticed that, several nights in a row, Lei Jin had woken up from nightmares in his arms, his eyes instinctively flicking toward the cave entrance. It was obvious what he was worried about. Yet, as soon as daylight came, he went back to pretending none of it concerned him.

Lei Jin sat on a rock by the water, soaking his feet.

Xiya busied himself with five bamboo tubes he had cut, following Lei Jin’s instructions to drill small holes in them. He filled them with rice, dried meat, and water, then buried most of them in the ground, sealing the holes before lighting a fire around them to cook slowly. They had been eating only meat for days, and Xiya noticed Lei Jin’s appetite was poor. That’s why he wanted to make him some rice. He wasn’t sure how, but Lei Jin at least had a vague idea.

This method was called bamboo tube rice.

“Lei Jin, how do we know when it’s done?” Xiya had already caught the scent of cooked rice but wasn’t sure if it was ready.

“Once the steam stops, it should be done.” Actually, Lei Jin wasn’t completely sure either. He had never cooked bamboo tube rice himself—only eaten it at restaurants. But he remembered the rice being dry, not watery.

Once the rice was cooked, Xiya dug the bamboo tubes out, split them open, and was greeted by the rich aroma of rice, meat, and fresh bamboo. The scent was truly enticing.

He set the rice aside to cool slightly before helping Lei Jin put on his shoes and bringing him over. Using a smooth bamboo sliver, he scooped up a portion and fed Lei Jin.

As expected, Lei Jin’s appetite improved immediately. He finished three tubes of rice in one go. Xiya saved the remaining two for Lei Jin’s next meal, choosing instead to chew on some dried meat himself.

Just as they were struggling to figure out their next move, they happened to run into Hao Yang, who had just returned from a hunt.

From Hao Yang they learned that he had seen Moya with a golden merfolk.

That was all Xiya needed to hear. If Moya was with the merfolk, then their next destination was clear—Xiya decided that he and Lei Jin would leave for the seaside the next day to find him.

Meanwhile, Mingya had just passed by the same tree—where the little fox had peed—for the sixth time. He plopped down on the ground with a groan, admitting that he was indeed lost.

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

“Caw, caw, caw! I must have been out of my mind. I shouldn’t have followed an idiot werebeast just because I want to watch them get it on in bed.”

“I’m not moving. My legs have gone numb. I’m exhausted.”

“Lei Jin, eldest brother, second brother, where are you? Mingya really, really misses you.” Mingya wiggled his tiny paws, lamenting his fate. Stuck with these two unreliable companions, he silently shed tears in his heart.

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