Another dozen days passed like this. The numbness and tingling in Lei Jin’s arms intensified, and he thought it might be time to start moving it slightly. However, Chunji had specifically warned him not to move it unnecessarily. Although Lei Jin was anxious to recover quickly, he also understood the old saying: “A hundred days to heal a broken bone.” Rushing things wouldn’t help. Being able to recover to this extent in just a month was already a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

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Chunji said today would be the last acupuncture session. After this, the treatment would mainly involve applying medicine and massage, with long-term recuperation being the most crucial part. Lei Jin understood this, but he wasn’t sure if he had the patience to wait that long. Still, for now, he had no choice but to take things one step at a time.

Even though he had undergone acupuncture many times, Lei Jin still felt a chill every time he saw the bone needles in Chunji’s hands. The rows of fine needles were wrapped in white cotton cloth, the longest being only about ten centimeters. They were pitch black, and according to Chunji, they were made from the bones of a certain animal.

“Lie still. Don’t move,” Chunji said, already holding a needle in his hand. At this moment, he was uncharacteristically serious, with none of the usual sarcastic smiles on his lips.

“Chunji, these needles won’t suddenly break, will they?” Lei Jin asked casually, though everyone knew that bones could become brittle over time. If one broke inside his body, it would be a disaster.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit late to ask that now?” Chunji tapped Lei Jin’s waist.

“It is a bit late, but better late than dying without knowing why,” Lei Jin admitted openly, his body twitching slightly. His waist was a sensitive spot, after all.

“Do you know what animal these bones are from?” Chunji asked as he inserted two needles into the acupuncture points.

“How would I know if you don’t tell me?” Lei Jin replied. Lately, lying on his stomach had been making him feel uncomfortable.

“In the deepest parts of the ocean, there’s a fish called the blind butterfly fish. They have flat bodies with large butterfly-like fins, no eyes, and bones that can withstand the immense pressure of the deep sea. As far as I know, these are the hardest bones that exist. Do you think they’ll break?”

“Chunji, you really seem to know a lot, even about things in the deepest parts of the ocean,” Lei Jin remarked. Unlike the modern world with its advanced media, the werebeasts here only had a vague understanding of the outside world. But Chunji was different. When he talked about something, it was as if he had seen it himself or at least knew it very well. It was hard not to be suspicious.

And then there was Chunji’s medical skills. Although Lei Jin hadn’t met many doctors, he had interacted with Qing Qiao from the Leopard Tribe and Mu Yue from the Tiger Tribe. Their skills were decent, but compared to Chunji, it was like comparing a bicycle to a train.

Chunji paused for a moment, then said fiercely, “If you keep talking nonsense, I might stick the needle in the wrong place. If you end up crippled or dead, don’t blame me.”

“That’s harsh,” Lei Jin muttered, not daring to provoke him further. He quickly changed the subject to distract himself. “When will I be able to move my arms a bit? It’s been so long, they feel like they belong to someone else.”

“After this session, you can start trying to move them slowly. After another month of applying medicine, you should be able to eat on your own,” Chunji said, washing his hands in a basin after finishing the acupuncture.

“En,” Lei Jin replied, closing his eyes.

The grassland was a bit chilly this time of year, especially in the morning. Chunji’s yard was full of trees, and the wind rustled through the leaves, creating a soothing sound.

Hearing movement in the yard, Lei Jin perked up his ears.

Chunji pretended not to notice, leisurely drying his hands one finger at a time. To an outsider, it might look like he was handling a priceless treasure rather than just his hands. Was it really necessary?

Finally, when Lei Jin couldn’t help but glance at him, Chunji put down the cloth and said, “I’ll go see who it is today.”

Chunji stepped out of the house in a good mood, ready to tease whoever had come.

However, his good mood only lasted until he saw the tall figure standing in the yard with his back to him. Chunji’s eyes reddened slightly, but his expression turned cold. He spoke first, “What brings the clan leader to my humble home?”

An Bu turned around, his demeanor calm and gentle. He smiled and said, “It’s been a while, Chunji.”

“You’re so busy, Clan Leader. How could I dare disturb you?” Chunji stood his ground, not taking a single step forward.

“I remember planting these rain blossoms myself years ago. It’s been a few years since I last came, and now the yard is full of them,” An Bu said, looking at Chunji, who was as prickly as a little hedgehog. He smiled indulgently, just like in the past. Chunji hadn’t changed at all—still quick to lash out at anyone.

“My place isn’t worthy of your presence, Clan Leader,” Chunji said, his expression softening slightly at the mention of the past but quickly turning cold again as he remembered these past years of hardship.

“Oh Chunji, my child…” An Bu frowned, not knowing what to say.

“I’m not your child. Moya is. He’s the precious one you had with Roger. As long as it’s Roger’s child, even if it’s not yours, you still love them, don’t you? Should I call you Uncle An Bu again?”

Chunji’s voice rose in agitation, and even Lei Jin inside the room could hear him clearly. Lei Jin was shocked. He had always sensed that there was something complicated between An Bu and Roger, but he never imagined that Moya was their child. What was going on?

Chunji continued to rant, but Lei Jin was stunned by another realization. If Moya was Roger’s child, what about Xiya and Mingya? Were they also Roger’s children? Did that mean Roger had given birth to three children in this world? Had his body been altered too? Was it forced, or did he agree to it? Was that why Roger couldn’t leave, even with the map? Was it because of the children?

Should Lei Jin feel a sense of relief that he couldn’t have children otherwise, he might have ended up like Roger. Imagining that one day he might walk around with a bulging belly like a penguin, the thought sent a shiver down his spine.

By now, the conversation between Chunji and An Bu had moved on.

Lei Jin only heard Chunji let out a cold snort and say, “I knew it. You’d never come to see me unless you had a reason. You’re here to check on your son’s mate, aren’t you? How laughable. Do you think anyone appreciates your sneaky concern? Roger? Moya?”

There was a long silence, and Lei Jin thought An Bu had left. But then An Bu’s voice came again, “How is he recovering?”

“He’s not dead,” Chunji snapped, then added, “But he can’t have children. If you’re so capable, why don’t you find another mate for Moya?”

“He won’t do that. Roger raised him well. He’s not that heartless,” An Bu said with certainty.

“Roger is the best, perfect in every way. But he’ll never be yours. You’ll never have him,” Chunji said with a malicious smile. After all these years, this man still couldn’t let go. But then again, he wasn’t the only one.

“Chunji, it’s time to remove the needles,” Lei Jin called out, checking the hourglass in the corner. He estimated the time was up and didn’t care what was happening outside.

An Bu said something else, but Lei Jin couldn’t make it out. Whatever it was, Chunji didn’t like it, because the next moment, Lei Jin heard the sound of a chair being smashed in the yard.

“Get out! I don’t need you meddling in my affairs!” Chunji shouted hoarsely.

The sound of the courtyard gate opening and closing signaled An Bu’s departure, and the yard fell silent again.

Chunji stood in the shadows by the door for a while, rubbing his eyes before finally turning back to the house.

Knowing Chunji was in a bad mood, Lei Jin decided to try to cheer him up. “Chunji, didn’t you make that sweet bean sauce? It’s great for cooking. I happen to know a few recipes. How about we try them for lunch today?” He knew Chunji was passionate about medicine and food, and he hoped this would distract him.

“More like you’re the one who’s got a craving, ordering me to cook for you. You’ve gained weight lately. Shouldn’t you be eating less?” Chunji’s voice was still unsteady, but he removed the needles as deftly as ever.

“Sharing is caring,” Lei Jin said with a smile after the needles were out, sitting up with Chunji’s help.

“Sit for a while. I’ll clean up outside, and then we can go sunbathe in the yard.”

Lei Jin knew Chunji was probably cleaning up the broken chair. Since Chunji didn’t bring it up, Lei Jin didn’t ask. They both tacitly agreed to act as if nothing had happened, even though Lei Jin was burning with curiosity, especially since it involved Moya. Did Moya even know about this?

Chunji helped Lei Jin outside. The sun was shining brightly today, casting small spots of light through the leaves. At first, they were round, but gradually, they were eroded, turning into half-moons and crescents as the sky darkened.

Then the streets erupted into chaos—shouts, barks, and the clanging of various objects. It was too noisy for Lei Jin to make out what they were saying.

Chunji, who had been drying herbs on a flat rooftop, glanced outside but showed no sign of panic. He climbed down the ladder and, seeing Lei Jin still calm, said, “You probably know this too, right? It’s a natural phenomenon.”

The sky grew darker, and Lei Jin could barely see Chunji standing opposite him. “Yes, a solar eclipse,” Lei Jin replied. He had seen one in the modern world, but he never expected to witness one here.

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Soon, the yard was pitch black, so dark that Lei Jin couldn’t see his own hand in front of his face. Suddenly, the courtyard gate creaked open. Lei Jin tensed, though he knew the people here were generally good-natured. Still, there was always the possibility of someone taking advantage of the darkness.

But the moment he was pulled into an embrace, Lei Jin couldn’t help but feel a wave of relief, though he hated to admit it.

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“Moya is here. Still not seeing him?” Chunji stood by the window, glancing at the figure entering the courtyard, then turned to ask Lei Jin, who was still lying on the bed.

“No.” Lei Jin didn’t know what to say if they met. It was better not to see him. He didn’t want to hear any explanations now. All he wanted was for his arms to heal quickly and to escape all of this.

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“How many days has it been?” Chunji picked up a bamboo pole from the corner and propped the window open.

The sudden burst of sunlight made Lei Jin squint. How many days had it been? Today was the seventeenth day, right? He frowned in frustration, annoyed that he remembered it so clearly.

He had been staying at Chunji’s place these days. Roger, Moya, Mingya, and even Berg had come once. Only Xiya was missing. Everyone probably wanted to know what he was thinking, but Lei Jin himself didn’t know, so how could he explain it to others? Relying on others to survive—despite forcing himself to accept this reality many times, he found it increasingly difficult. The incident with the drug had shattered the rare trust he had given, but he knew it was just a catalyst, bringing to light the underlying conflicts that had always existed. What he couldn’t adapt to was the role he was forced to play in this world. In modern society, he wasn’t exactly a powerhouse, but he had his own domain where he was the undisputed leader, with many people depending on him to survive. But here? He was just a weak female, constantly being overpowered, and now even expected to bear children. What a joke. How had he fallen to this point? Was he supposed to cheer and be happy about it?

Regardless of their ultimate goal in drugging him—whether it was to keep him here or simply to have a child—he had no intention of cooperating. There was no need for him to play along.

“He stood in the courtyard for a while, left some things, and then left. I’ll go see what it is today.” Chunji was always eager to check the daily offerings, which were never the same. He was curious, but Lei Jin never even glanced at them.

Lei Jin watched as Chunji hurried out the door. Despite feeling stiff, he didn’t dare move because his body was still covered in bone needles.

When Chunji first mentioned acupuncture, Lei Jin had been startled and secretly wondered if Chunji was also from the modern world. Given Chunji’s mysterious background—no one in the tribe knew where he came from—Lei Jin had his suspicions. But after several tests, he realized he was probably overthinking it.

Chunji’s medical skills, however, were even better than rumored. Even in modern society, with such severe injuries and a delay of over two months, treatment would have been difficult. But with Chunji’s daily acupuncture and herbal remedies, Lei Jin’s arms had started to regain some sensation after just ten days. It was a faint, tingling feeling, but it was hope nonetheless.

“Lei Jin, today it’s wild ducks. I’ll cook them for lunch. Let me know if you hear me,” Chunji called into the room, picking up the three wild ducks on the table and weighing them in his hand. They were quite heavy.

“Got it.” Lei Jin hadn’t realized before how chatty Chunji was. He always demanded a response, but as Lei Jin was living under his roof he had no choice but to comply.

“I knew you hadn’t left,” Chunji said, pulling open the courtyard gate and leaning against the doorframe with a smile, deliberately lowering his voice.

“How is he today?” Moya was still standing outside the wall, unable to resist glancing toward the window of the room where Lei Jin was staying, though he couldn’t see anything.

“Which part are you asking about? If it’s his body, with me here, of course, he’s fine. You heard him just now.”

Moya nodded. Indeed, Lei Jin’s voice had sounded strong.

“As for his mood, that’s beyond my ability to fix. But since you’ve already done what you did, you should be prepared to face the consequences.” Chunji had initially wanted nothing to do with this mess, but seeing Moya and the others moping around was ruining his appetite. Lately, he could only eat one wild chicken and two and a half flatbreads per meal, a full half-flatbread less than before.

Meanwhile, Lei Jin, with nothing to do all day, had been eating more and more. He’d start yelling about being hungry before mealtime even arrived. After the acupuncture sessions, Chunji had to brew medicine and then cook, leaving him no time to relax. He was practically suffocating. So, when Moya and the others brought gifts, Chunji accepted them without hesitation, considering them compensation for his efforts. After all, Lei Jin was eating more than he was.

“There’s a misunderstanding. We didn’t give him the jade mugwort. We’ll explain it to him later,” Moya said hesitantly.

“You may not have done it, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t think about it. Lei Jin probably knows that too.” But judging by Lei Jin’s current state, it was clear he was hesitating, wavering. If he were truly angry and wanted to cut ties, he would have said so outright. Why all this avoidance instead?

Moya understood that things could be worse. At least Lei Jin hadn’t explicitly ended their relationship. He wanted to see Lei Jin, but he was also afraid of facing him.

“He doesn’t like eating meat every day. There are some vegetables and wild fruits in the other bag. Try to get him to eat more. He loves mushrooms…” Moya changed the subject to something safer.

“Stop. What do you think this place is? I’m treating him and giving him food to keep him from starving. That’s enough. I don’t have time for all these details,” Chunji snapped, his blond eyebrows furrowing.

“Thank you for taking care of him. We appreciate it,” Moya said sincerely, his calm eyes showing no offense at Chunji’s words.

“I hate your eyes—they’re just like Roger’s. But they also remind me of him,” Chunji muttered, staring at Moya’s dark green eyes.

Though Chunji’s voice was low, Moya heard him clearly. He frowned slightly but said nothing.

For lunch, Chunji prepared two wild ducks, coating them in honey and stuffing them with wild fruits, mushrooms, and vegetables before roasting them. The two of them each ate a whole duck, leaving nothing behind. By the end, their stomachs were round and full.

“If only we had some shredded scallions, thin pancakes, and sweet bean sauce,” Lei Jin said, lying back comfortably on the bamboo chair. Chunji really knew how to live well—even his bamboo chairs were like modern rocking chairs.

“What’s sweet bean sauce?” Chunji asked, intrigued by the mention of food.

“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you,” Lei Jin replied. In truth, he didn’t know much about it either. He only knew how to eat it, not how to make it.

“How would I know if you don’t tell me?” Chunji was stubborn.

Actually, making sweet bean sauce only required wheat flour and fermentation. Coincidentally, the Leopard Tribe grew wheat, and while most households didn’t have much to spare, they all had some. Chunji’s home was no exception. After Lei Jin explained the basic method, Chunji got to work. Lei Jin didn’t have high hopes for the result.

Lately, Lei Jin had noticed his appetite had increased dramatically. He could eat and sleep like never before. He had intended to carefully consider the messy relationships between them, but now he was just too tired. His eyelids grew heavy, and he slowly closed his eyes.

Chunji called out a few times from the kitchen but got no response. When he came over, he found Lei Jin asleep.

“Hey, it’s cold out here. If you’re going to sleep, go inside,” Chunji said, shaking the chair. He couldn’t carry Lei Jin himself.

“Mmm…” Lei Jin responded instinctively but made no move to get up.

“Eat and sleep—what is this, raising a pig?” Chunji muttered, resigned to fetching a blanket from the house. Lei Jin’s body was already battered enough. Catching a cold would only make things worse.

“I’ll carry him in.”

The deep male voice startled Chunji.

“Why do you walk so quietly?” Chunji turned to see Xiya approaching. It had only been a dozen or so days, but Xiya looked haggard, with dark circles under his eyes. How long had it been since he’d slept properly?

Xiya had been visiting various tribes, desperate to find a way to counteract the effects of the banyan fruit. He now knew that while the fruit was harmless to werebeasts—even beneficial for circulation—it was toxic to females, causing infertility and long-term damage to the body. But every healer he consulted had told him the same thing: there was no cure.

Seeing Lei Jin sleeping peacefully, Xiya didn’t dare disturb him. He carried Lei Jin inside and quickly left.

“Is there really no way to counteract the banyan fruit?” Xiya asked, though he already knew the answer.

“No,” Chunji said without hesitation. If Lei Jin hadn’t had the nosebleed, it would have been more complicated. But because it happened early, Chunji had been able to gradually draw the toxins out during the acupuncture sessions. However, doing something and saying it were two different things. For one, Chunji disliked Roger and, by extension, anyone connected to him. For another, he wanted to see how these werebeasts would react when they learned their mate couldn’t bear children in a tribe that placed such importance on lineage.

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The expected answer still dimmed Xiya’s eyes. Children no longer mattered—Lei Jin didn’t want them anyway. But what about his health?

Chunji watched coldly, saying nothing. The final choice hadn’t been made yet after all. He was waiting to see how things would play out.

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Chunji knew his reputation in the tribe wasn’t great. Even Mura, who had a decent relationship with him, always acted furtively when they met. In contrast, Lei Jin had visited him several times openly and without hesitation. At first, Chunji had approached Lei Jin simply because he found him interesting. But as they spent more time together, he realized that Lei Jin’s carefree and straightforward personality was quite endearing. While he couldn’t speak for others, at the very least, Lei Jin had won him over.

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After several interactions, Chunji also learned that Lei Jin was quite averse to the idea of having children. He had intended to warn Lei Jin not to take the jade mugwort, but after seeing how well Xiya and the others treated Lei Jin, and knowing that Lei Jin was about to leave soon on the hunting trip, he thought it could wait until he returned. As for Lei Jin’s desire to return home, Chunji had always known it was impossible, so he hadn’t given it much thought.

Before Lei Jin left, he had come to Chunji to say goodbye. At that time, Chunji was certain Lei Jin hadn’t taken the jade mugwort.

Who could have predicted that a single trip would turn everything upside down?

Chunji placed his hand on Lei Jin’s stomach. He hadn’t noticed it before, but now it was clear that Lei Jin had taken the jade mugwort, and his physique had changed.

“Are you saying that Lei Jin…” Moya stared at the spot where Chunji’s hand rested, his lips moving several times but unable to form the words. From Lei Jin’s perspective, this shouldn’t be a cause for celebration, yet Moya couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope.

Xiya, hearing this, couldn’t stay seated either. Though he tried to maintain his composure, the sudden spark of joy in his eyes was unmistakable.

Roger’s expression, however, was complex and inscrutable.

Only Mingya was completely clueless, entirely out of the loop.

Chunji glanced at Xiya and Moya. Females were rare in the tribes, and those who could find a female partner usually wouldn’t choose to be with a werebeast. After all, who wouldn’t want their own child?

Who wouldn’t be happy to become a father for the first time?

But things rarely go as planned.

A mocking smile appeared on Chunji’s otherwise expressionless face. “Don’t think that just because you secretly gave him the jade mugwort, Lei Jin will obediently bear your children. The best laid plans often go awry. I don’t know how you managed to encounter the banyan fruit, which only grows near the swamps where jade mugwort thrives. The banyan and jade mugwort counteract each other…” He didn’t believe Lei Jin could calmly accept the idea of bearing children after this trip. The only possibility was that they had acted behind his back.

Was this what they called love? Using underhanded methods to make a female pregnant with their child? In Chunji’s eyes, the so-called love of werebeasts for females was nothing more than a means to satisfy themselves and produce offspring.

“So what?” Moya forced the words out, though he already guessed the answer. He wanted to hear the truth directly.

“So Lei Jin will never be able to have children, no matter how much jade mugwort he takes,” Chunji said coldly, his lips parting to deliver the harsh reality.

“What?” After a moment of stunned silence, it was Roger who spoke first.

Xiya staggered, his face twisted in pain. He had been the one to pick those banyan fruits.

“Papa?” Mingya tugged at Roger’s pant leg. “What is Brother Chunji saying?”

“Don’t ask, Mingya,” Roger sighed. He knew this might not be a bad thing for Lei Jin, but seeing his sons in such pain, he couldn’t feel at ease either.

“Is Brother Chunji saying that Lei Jin can never have a baby?” Though young, Mingya wasn’t entirely clueless.

Roger nodded. The truth was out, and Mingya deserved to know.

“Will Lei Jin be sad?” Mingya’s first concern was Lei Jin’s feelings.

Roger shook his head. “Lei Jin doesn’t like the idea of having babies. He probably won’t be sad about this.”

Mingya thought for a moment, resting his head on his paws.

“Are you sad, Mingya?” Roger asked.

“No. If Lei Jin isn’t sad, then I’m not sad either,” Mingya shook his head.

Roger nodded, relieved. He had always known that his youngest son, though a bit naive, had a one of a kind pure and kind heart.

“What were you thinking about just now?” Roger asked, noticing how seriously Mingya had been pondering.

“I was thinking, if one day Lei Jin suddenly wants a baby, where can I find one for him?”

Mingya seemed to think babies were as easy to find as weeds on the ground.

“Why don’t you have one for him?” Roger was at a loss for words, unsure how to handle his youngest son.

“I’m a werebeast,” Mingya replied, aware that werebeasts couldn’t bear babies.

“If you want to, you can,” Roger said, not wanting to argue further.

“Really, Papa? Can I have a baby for Lei Jin?” Mingya’s eyes lit up.

“You really have no sense of being a werebeast,” Chunji muttered, rubbing his temples.

All of them standing there were really getting on his nerves. Chunji waved them off. “Everyone except Lei Jin, get out. It’s getting late.”

“Chunji, Lei Jin’s arms are also injured,” Moya explained in detail about their encounter with the dragon bird. Despite the suffocating pain in his heart, there was no use dwelling on it now. Elder Brother must be the most guilt-ridden, as they would never have children now.

Just moments ago, they had thought Lei Jin might be pregnant, but the reality was far crueler. The sudden shift from joy to despair was something only those who had experienced it could understand.

Forget it. Now wasn’t the time to think about this. Moya forced himself to focus. Lei Jin was still unconscious. Could his injuries have worsened?

Chunji had heard about the incident from others in the tribe. After examining Lei Jin, he had a rough idea of the extent of the injury to his arms.

“I know. Moya, put him in my room. The rest of you, leave,” Chunji pointed to the courtyard gate. He wasn’t a good person anyway and didn’t care about his reputation. He did as he pleased.

“Let’s go home, Xiya,” Roger reached out to take Xiya’s hand, but it was cold and unresponsive. “Xiya, what’s wrong?”

“Papa?” Xiya rarely called Roger “papa” because Roger didn’t like it.

“Let’s talk at home,” Roger patted the back of Xiya’s hand.

Xiya glanced back at the lit room. Then he turned and left with Roger and Mingya.

“Can I stay here with him? I’m worried he might need help if he wakes up at night,” Moya said, laying Lei Jin on the bed, loosening his clothes, and covering him with a blanket.

“Do you think he’s going to wake up in this state?” Chunji crossed his legs and sat leisurely on a nearby stool. “Besides, if you stay here overnight, people who don’t know the situation might start rumors. I can’t afford that kind of reputation.”

“Then I’ll come see him tomorrow morning,” Moya knew Chunji wouldn’t budge. He tucked the blanket around Lei Jin.

Chunji had been about to say, “Don’t be a nuisance,” but seeing the concern in Moya’s eyes, he changed his tone. “Do as you please.”

As Moya was about to leave, Chunji’s voice called out from behind, “Don’t you want children?” He hadn’t missed the hope in Moya’s eyes earlier.

“I do,” Moya said before stepping out.

“What does that mean?” Chunji muttered. Moya clearly wanted children, but hearing that Lei Jin couldn’t have them didn’t seem to faze him much. Chunji couldn’t figure it out and decided not to waste his energy. There were other things to deal with.

“Alright, stop pretending. They’re gone,” Chunji said with a grin, sitting down beside Lei Jin.

Lei Jin slowly opened his eyes and smiled lazily. “Long time no see, Chunji, my beauty.”

He had genuinely passed out earlier—no one wanted to embarrass themselves in public like that. But Chunji’s medicine was excruciating, the kind of pain that could wake the dead. Lei Jin had woken up but was still weak. He had planned to rest with his eyes closed, but then the whole drama unfolded. Honestly, he was shocked too and didn’t know how to react, so he decided to play along.

“Aren’t you going to ask how I figured it out?” Chunji leaned in closer, almost touching Lei Jin’s nose.

“Help me sit up first. It’s uncomfortable talking while lying down,” Lei Jin said without ceremony.

“Do you think I’m one of your obedient little leopards?” Chunji grumbled but still grabbed two large pillows and propped Lei Jin up against the headboard, supporting his back as he sat up.

“You haven’t had other men in this bed, have you?” Lei Jin glanced at the blanket covering him. He had a bit of a cleanliness obsession and didn’t want to risk catching some bug.

“If you’re so picky, don’t sleep here. This is the only bed in my house. You should be grateful I’m letting you use it. Others can’t even get near it. I didn’t see you complaining when your little leopards were holding you.”

“They’re different. They have good hygiene habits,” Lei Jin said honestly, without bias.

“Yeah, right. It’s all because of Roger’s strict rules. Everyone in the tribe knows that.”

“As long as it’s good, who cares whose rules they are?”

“Of course it’s good. Did they make you feel good too?” Chunji smirked, reaching out to touch a purplish hickey near Lei Jin’s ear. “You’ve got marks all over, front and back. Was it two of them, or all three? It couldn’t have been just one.”

“Don’t drag Mingya into this,” Lei Jin said, though he cared for the little guy, the idea of being with him that way was unimaginable. It felt too much like taking advantage of a child.

“So it was Xiya and Moya then. No wonder they looked so hopeful when I touched your stomach. They thought there might be a baby in there.”

“Was what you said true?” Lei Jin asked.

“Which part? I’ve said a lot today,” Chunji replied, unsure which statement Lei Jin was referring to.

“The part about someone giving me jade mugwort, and being able to have children.”

“Of course it’s true. Why would I lie? What do you think caused the nosebleed?” Chunji poured a glass of water from the table.

“I thought it was because of the hot springs,” Lei Jin frowned.

“Nonsense. The hot springs might slow the healing of your shoulder wound or cause some bleeding, but the nosebleed was definitely from taking both jade mugwort and banyan.”

“Are you saying they drugged me? That I could really have a child?” Lei Jin’s voice was cold. Was this what their so-called love amounted to? Deception and lies? All this time, he had felt guilty for not being able to return their feelings, thinking of ways to make it up to them before he left.

And what had they done? Tried to trap him with a child? Keep him here, bound to them, having children?

Xiya, Moya, I’ve never tried to deceive you, even if I couldn’t accept your feelings. But what have you given me in return? Was all that warmth just for the sake of a child? A small voice in Lei Jin’s heart whispered: Is that really true? Can’t you feel it? If not, why would they go behind your back?

Chunji saw the coldness creeping into Lei Jin’s eyes and knew things had taken a bad turn.

“There’s something I should have told you earlier. You thought you weren’t a female of this world and couldn’t bear children. That’s not entirely wrong, but there’s a herb here called jade mugwort. Its flower can alter your physique, allowing you to conceive after being with a werebeast.”

“So my stomach…” Lei Jin looked down with disgust. The idea of a man’s body bearing a child was something he had never considered.

“Be honest. Have you been with them in their beast forms?” If so, that would complicate things. Given Lei Jin’s current state, he clearly didn’t want a child. If it was early, Chunji might not be able to detect it. But if they waited until the pregnancy was advanced, it would be dangerous to terminate.

Lei Jin shook his head firmly. “Does that matter?”

Chunji continued, “You should know that the beast form is the true form of a werebeast, and it’s when they’re at their strongest. Being with them in that form greatly increases the chances of pregnancy. Of course, it can happen at other times too, but the likelihood is much lower, though not impossible.”

“I’ll stay here for a few days,” Lei Jin said, closing his eyes, exhaustion evident on his face.

“Stay as long as you like. But I think they…”

Lei Jin cut him off. “Don’t mention them to me right now.”

“Alright, I won’t. Here, drink some water,” Chunji handed him the cup.

“Rest here for now. I had some meat stewing in the pot earlier. The fire’s probably out by now. I’ll go check.”

Lei Jin avoided Chunji’s outstretched hand. “Don’t lay me down. I’ll just sit for a while.”

“That’s fine. You can try my cooking later. Let me tell you, in this tribe, when it comes to cooking and healing, if I say I’m second, no one dares claim first.”

Lei Jin knew Chunji was trying to distract him and nodded along.

Though the room was lit, it was still dim, filled with the scent of pine resin. By the time Chunji returned with the meat stew, Lei Jin still hadn’t sorted out his thoughts.

“Try this. I added a lot of medicinal herbs. It’s flavorful and nourishing,” Chunji said, knowing Lei Jin’s arm was immobile. He climbed onto the bed with the bowl, and the two ate together.

After Lei Jin swallowed a bite, Chunji asked, “See? I didn’t lie, did I?”

Chunji’s stew was delicious, with thinly sliced meat and a hint of herbal flavor. But Lei Jin had no appetite.

After the meal, the two lay side by side on the bed.

“Will my arms heal?” This was Lei Jin’s biggest concern. If his arms didn’t recover, he wouldn’t even be able to take care of himself, let alone think about anything else.

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

“Leave it to me,” Chunji said confidently.

“Then I’m relieved,” Lei Jin buried his face in the blanket. The unfamiliar scent around him was a stark reminder that those he was familiar with were gone. But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

Once his injuries healed, it would be time to start searching for a way home.

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“Wipe it off.” Image is crucial. Lei Jin managed to utter his final instruction before finally passing out. He couldn’t hold on any longer—he was utterly exhausted.

“Lei Jin…” Moya’s usual cold demeanor vanished completely.

Lei Jin’s sudden collapse caught everyone off guard. Moya, who was already by Lei Jin’s side, quickly scooped up his limp body and held him close. With his wings spread, he flew toward the tribe. Xiya, following closely behind, instructed Mingya, “Take Berg home,” before taking off after them.

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“Mingya wants to go too!” Mingya, who couldn’t fly yet, called out to the other werebeasts who had come to meet them, asking them to take Berg back to their home. Then he dashed off on all fours, chasing after the others.

“What just happened?” The crowd exchanged confused glances, unsure of what had transpired. Lei Jin had disappeared right before their eyes back then, and now that he was back, many had wanted to greet him. But they hadn’t even gotten a chance to see him properly.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you to Xiya’s place,” said Qi Luo, one of the werebeasts who had been present. He had only caught a glimpse of Lei Jin earlier and hadn’t had time to see what was going on.

Moya didn’t take Lei Jin to the tribe’s healer. Instead, he went straight to Chunji’s house. Everyone knew Chunji was the best healer, though he also had the worst temper. However, Chunji owed his life to Dad An Luo, so he always showed some leniency toward their family.

The door was practically slammed open by Moya. Chunji, who was inside doing something, heard the commotion and shouted without even looking up, “What the hell are you doing? Get out of here! Don’t cause trouble in my place!”

“Chunji, come quick! Save Lei Jin!” Moya laid Lei Jin down on a bamboo bed in the courtyard, trying to stem the blood flowing from his nose and mouth with his hands, but the blood seeped through his fingers.

“Lei Jin?” Chunji, sleeves rolled up, emerged from the house. Seeing Lei Jin’s bloodied face, he was startled and hurried over. “What happened? It hasn’t been that long since I last saw him. How did he end up like this?”

Xiya, who had arrived right behind, still managed to keep his composure. Hearing Chunji’s question, he explained how Lei Jin had suddenly started bleeding from his nose and mouth.

Chunji had already begun examining Lei Jin. After a moment, he straightened up and said, “There are no wounds on his nose or mouth. Could the injury be internal?”

“We ran into saber-tooth beasts on our way back. Lei Jin was clawed,” Moya explained. He helped Lei Jin sit up, and Xiya stepped in to assist, removing Lei Jin’s shirt. The wound on his shoulder, which hadn’t fully healed, had started bleeding again despite being treated with medicine just the night before.

“How could you still have intercourse with him? Look at the state he’s in!” Without the shirt covering him, the marks on Lei Jin’s body were unmistakable.

Neither Moya nor Xiya had anything to say. While Lei Jin had provoked them, it was true that they hadn’t been able to restrain themselves.

Chunji snorted, went back inside, and returned with a crystal vial. He poured some brown powder onto the wound and bandaged it with fine white cotton. Lei Jin, likely feeling the pain, frowned and shifted uncomfortably in Moya’s arms.

“Chunji, be gentle,” Moya said softly, patting Lei Jin’s back. Even though he knew Lei Jin couldn’t hear him, he kept murmuring, “It’s okay, it’ll be over soon. Just hang in there a little longer.”

“Is this the cause? Did the injury go deeper?” Xiya asked anxiously from the side.

Chunji shot them a glare. “Where were you two when this happened? Can’t even protect the person you love.”

“Brother Chunji, what’s wrong with Lei Jin?” Mingya finally arrived, drenched in sweat.

“I must really owe this family,” Chunji muttered, tying off the bandage. “When did you encounter the saber-toothed beasts?”

“Three days ago,” Xiya replied.

“And you used falconweed on him?” Chunji sniffed some of the remaining powder near the wound.

Xiya nodded.

“That’s strange. Falconweed is one of the best hemostatic herbs. Why is the wound still bleeding? And what’s with the nosebleed?” Chunji frowned, examining the injury more closely. It didn’t make sense. While it was understandable for Lei Jin to cough up some blood immediately after being clawed, bleeding three days later was unusual.

After all the commotion, the nosebleed had stopped on its own.

Chunji couldn’t figure out the cause right away, but since Lei Jin still reacted when touched, he guessed there wouldn’t be any immediate danger.

Xiya fetched a basin of water from the well in the courtyard and carefully wiped Lei Jin’s face clean.

Roger, who had received the message from Mingya that Lei Jin was safe and that the three brothers had returned, finally felt a weight lift off his shoulders. An Luo, who had run into the crow delivering the message on its way home, had also returned, waiting for the family to reunite.

When someone came to their house to say they were back, Roger had rushed out to meet them halfway, only to hear that Lei Jin seemed to be in trouble. Only then did he hurry over.

“What happened to Lei Jin?” Roger asked, noticing how much darker and thinner Lei Jin looked after this trip, not to mention the injuries.

“Papa…” Mingya threw himself at Roger, his eyes red.

Roger patted his head a couple of times, too preoccupied to correct his form of address. He asked again, “What about Lei Jin?”

“Father, Chunji hasn’t figured out the cause yet,” Xiya explained, briefly recounting the situation to Roger. He pulled over a small stool for Roger to sit on.

“Did anything else happen on your way back?” Chunji, seeing that Moya wasn’t going to be much help, turned to Xiya instead.

“After we ran into the saber-toothed beasts, the rest of the journey was smooth,” Xiya replied, thinking for a moment before shaking his head.

“Did Lei Jin go anywhere alone? Or eat anything by himself?” Chunji tried to prompt him.

Xiya shook his head again. With Lei Jin injured, there was no way they would have let him go off on his own.

Chunji asked a few more questions, and Xiya answered them carefully after thinking them over, but Chunji dismissed each one.

In the end, Chunji almost ran out of patience. He sat down and poured himself a cup of water.

“Mingya fed Lei Jin some red berries,” Mingya chimed in, raising a paw.

“What red berries?” Chunji asked absentmindedly, not really paying attention to Mingya’s words.

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Xiya, however, remembered the incident. He had tasted the berries himself and didn’t think they were poisonous, but he still described the tree and the berries in detail to Chunji.

Before Xiya could finish, Chunji kicked over his stool and stood up. He pressed his hand against Lei Jin’s stomach for a while, then let out a cold laugh. “You guys really outdid yourselves this time.”

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At first, Xiya didn’t notice anything unusual and was still talking about the survival issues of white-colored species in nature. However, he quickly realized that something was off with Lei Jin. That gaze didn’t look like he was listening at all—it was more like he was scrutinizing something, verifying something. Xiya instinctively became more alert. Lei Jin was full of tricks, and sometimes, he had to be careful when dealing with him.

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

“Massage my neck a bit—it’s sore,” Lei Jin said suddenly, stretching his neck left and right. His body had been tense all night due to high stress.

“Oh.” Xiya sat behind Lei Jin. He wasn’t particularly skilled at this, but giving a basic massage should be fine.

“How’s the pressure? Is it too strong?” Xiya, being a werebeast, had great strength, so he was careful not to use too much force.

“En, press more on the left side.”

“Here?”

“En.”

“I remember the first time I ate the roast chicken you and Moya made—it was pretty good,” Lei Jin said casually.

“Oh, that…” Xiya was about to respond modestly as usual after receiving praise when a cold sweat ran down his forehead. He realized he had slipped up. He let out two dry chuckles, trying to salvage the situation. “That… that…” He couldn’t see Lei Jin’s expression right now and had no idea what his mood was. He also didn’t dare to defend themselves too much, fumbling for words but failing to explain anything properly.

Seeing Xiya’s reaction, Lei Jin immediately understood. So that so-called dream he had that day was actually their doing. Finally, he had found the culprits. His teeth gritted secretly, and he made up his mind—though he couldn’t act now, he’d definitely settle this score later. It’s just that he hadn’t expected the opportunity to come so soon.

If this had been in the past, he might have wanted to kill them. But now that they even had a threesome, even he found it a bit petty to dwell on it. Still, being secretly tricked while unconscious wasn’t something he could easily let go of.

When Moya arrived, he didn’t notice the subtle tension between Xiya and Lei Jin. He only saw that Xiya looked a little off but didn’t think much of it, assuming that everyone was just exhausted from the previous night.

“Even though we’ve killed a lot of the saber-tooth beasts here and should have intimidated them for now, there’s no guarantee they won’t come back. We should leave as soon as possible. Once we cross this wasteland, we can rest properly ahead. If we hurry, we can reach the tribe in another day,” Moya said. This was one of the reasons they had chosen this route—it was relatively shorter.

Xiya and Lei Jin agreed. If they encountered another two large packs of those beasts, there was no telling what would happen. Xiya shook the still-sleeping Mingya awake, then called Berg. After a quick cleanup, they continued eastward.

The journey was uneventful, so let’s skip ahead.

This time, Xiya and Moya pushed themselves hard, covering what should have been a two-day journey in just a day and a half. By the afternoon of the second day, they had left the wasteland behind and arrived at another forested area.

This forest was close to the grasslands, so the trees weren’t as tall or dense as in the jungle. There were large open spaces between them, plenty of sunlight, and thriving shrubs.

They didn’t find any caves this time, but they did discover a natural treehouse not far from a water source. It was hard to tell if it was one tree or several entwined together—the roots interwove at the base and then separated at about human height, forming a wide platform. Above, the canopy was lush and thick, acting as a natural roof that could likely hold off rain for a while.

The leaves were dark green, waxy, and bore small fruits about the size of apricots in red, green, and yellow. They looked vibrant among the foliage. Small brown-backed birds with white bellies were pecking at the red ones, seemingly unafraid of people.

They gathered some dry grass to spread in the treehouse since lying directly on the rough roots would be uncomfortable.

Noticing Lei Jin seemed interested in the fruits, Xiya picked a few to taste. The yellow and green ones were bitter and astringent, while the red ones were slightly sweet but still not particularly tasty.

“Moya and I are going to scout the forest for game and other edible fruits. These ones aren’t very good,” Xiya said, frowning from the lingering bitterness in his mouth.

Lei Jin wasn’t particularly greedy for the fruits, but after eating dried meat for seven or eight days, his mouth felt greasy. He just wanted something to refresh his palate, even if it wasn’t delicious—so long as it wasn’t poisonous.

“I’ll just have a few.”

Xiya didn’t insist and picked a handful of red fruits, washed them in the stream, and handed them to Mingya to feed Lei Jin.

With daylight still bright, Xiya and Moya headed into the forest to hunt.

That evening, they roasted an entire deer. It was the first hot meal they’d had in a while, and with the thought of returning home soon, everyone was in a good mood.

Berg sat tactfully on the side, eating his share. Though he tried not to think too much, he still felt a little lost—especially seeing how the three brothers openly doted on and protected Lei Jin. The wounds from the saber-tooth beast attack still ached, though Moya had helped apply medicine.

He missed his dad back in the tribe. But when he looked down at his stomach, which had begun to show faint traces of change, memories of that man came flooding back—how he had been tied to the bed with merfolk silk, how the more he resisted, the rougher that man became.

He feared that man. Especially the way he always forced him to call him “big brother” whenever they reached the peak of their coupling.

He no longer wanted to dwell on the past. Regardless of how it had happened, the child was already inside him, and there was no way to get rid of it. All he could do was keep it. He only hoped for a peaceful life in the Leopard Tribe. As for Moya… he needed to give up.

Looking at them now, how could anyone possibly come between them?

Moya sliced some roasted deer meat, dipped it into a bowl of salt, wrapped it in a leaf, and fed it to Lei Jin. “This forest has a lot of bean-leaf greens. Papa loved eating them raw. There were many in the hills behind our tribe, and when I was little, I used to follow papa to pick them.”

Looks like Roger taught them well, Lei Jin thought.

Mingya had probably exhausted himself with his outburst that day. He had been lazy these past two days, but he was still a little clingy. Wherever Lei Jin was, Mingya was sure to be nearby. At that moment, he was curled up at Lei Jin’s feet, chewing on the deer meat Xiya had given him, occasionally licking Lei Jin’s hand to remind him he was there.

“By the way, where’s that fox and crow that’s always with you?” Lei Jin suddenly remembered seeing them when he first encountered Mingya. That crow had perched on his shoulder, muttering incessantly, radiating an eerie aura of resentment.

“Mingya sent them home to deliver a message,” Mingya replied between bites of venison. He glanced at Xiya, still feeling guilty about the scolding he had received from his brother. He knew he had been wrong—papa must be worried sick.

“A crow delivering a message? Would Roger even understand it?” Lei Jin was skeptical.

“Mingya wrote it down,” Xiya answered.

“You can write?” Lei Jin suddenly realized he had never asked about literacy in this world.

“Papa taught us,” Xiya replied.

Mingya nodded in agreement.

Well, Lei Jin thought, just in case, if one day he can’t go back, he can just promote China’s splendid culture here. At least he knows Chinese characters, and those scribbles of Roger’s can recognize him, but he doesn’t know those scribbles. He can’t be illiterate here.

As for Lei Jin’s decision, which directly led to the extremely painful struggles of Xiya, Moya, Mingya and the children, it was not his concern. Of course, this is a story for later, so let’s not talk about it for now.

They had dinner early today, and after dinner they rested in the tree house for a while. The sun had not yet set, and Lei Jin wanted to take a shower. The stream water in the forest was very cold. Moya suddenly remembered that when they were hunting just now, they passed by a large body of water in the valley, which was still emitting white steam, so it should be very warm.

Mingya fell asleep again. Berg said he didn’t want to go, so Xiya, Moya and Lei Jin went there.

Lei Jin thought that this should be a hot spring from Moya’s description, and when he got there, he saw that it was indeed a hot spring, with the familiar faint smell of sulfur.

This is a hidden valley with five or six naturally formed hot spring pools of varying sizes, with the temperature increasing from the outside to the inside. Lei Jin suggested that they all go in and soak in the pools one by one. He had an injury on his shoulder and that part could not go into the water so Xiya held Lei Jin up in the water. The two bodies were pressed tightly together, rubbing against each other from time to time. At first, Xiya could still bear it, but as the temperature of the pool got higher and higher, the fire in his body gradually burned brighter. However, Lei Jin seemed to be unaware of it. As Xiya’s hands washed him, he would let out the occasional alluring sighs from time to time.

“A little lower.” There was a hint of intimacy in Lei Jin’s hoarse voice, and he signaled Xiya to move his hand down on his waist.

“You…” Xiya looked down at him. Lei Jin’s eyes were half closed, and his lips, which were unusually rosy in the mist, were slightly parted.

“Hurry up.” Lei Jin urged.

Xiya couldn’t stand this, and immediately pressed his lips against Lei Jin’s, and the two of them soon became entangled in each other.

Moya collected their clothes before treading into the water.

Xiya and Lei Jin were standing in the hot spring. The water just reached Lei Jin’s waist. The water was clear so the scenery was unobstructed.

Moya came behind Lei Jin and licked and kissed along his back all the way down to that hidden spot.

“Ah…” Lei Jin tensed his body, sandwiched between the two of them, feeling the burning hardness from the both of them pressing against him.

Lei Jin had wounds on his body, so it was naturally inconvenient for him to be in the water. The three of them quickly came to a tree on the shore. Lei Jin was held in Moya’s arms, with a pair of big hands supporting his bottom. His member was being sucked by Xiya, and Moya had already inserted two fingers within his inner walls, constantly pressing on the sensitive points in his body. Lei Jin let out pants, no longer able to bear it.

The sudden entry of the third finger almost made Lei Jin scream, but he managed to retain the last bit of rationality as his goal for today had not been achieved.

Lei Jin didn’t hold on for long, and soon came, frowning and sighing, “You two come in together.”

After saying this, Lei Jin noticed how their members somehow swelled even bigger. Seeing Xiya’s hungry eyes, he felt a little hesitant, but once he had said it, there was no taking it back.

“No, you won’t be able to bear it.” Moya barely regained some of his senses.

“But I want to try double penetration.” After saying this, Lei Jin cursed in his heart at how shameless the words sounded.

After hearing this, Xiya and Moya could not hold back, they were healthy males after all. After completing the preliminary preparations, the two of them pressed against the entrance, ready to go.

“My shoulder hurts so much.” Lei Jin frowned and spoke in pain.

“Is it the place where the beast scratched you?” No matter how eager they were, the two had to stop. Moya had been careful earlier, but now he found that the wound that had just healed began to bleed again.

“We must go back and apply medicine.” Moya said decisively.

Xiya nodded, even though that place was still hard and painful. But Lei Jin’s health is definitely the first priority.

Xiya and Moya applied medicine to Lei Jin and stopped the bleeding. Seeing his furrowed brows relaxing, the two of them hurried to solve their problem downstairs.

Lei Jin saw the two jumping down the tree in an awkward posture. The haziness in his half-closed eyes disappeared completely, leaving only a sharpness. When he saw Xiya’s reaction when taking a hot spring bath just now, he thought of this method temporarily. But the effect is not bad. Taking advantage of me while I am unconscious? I’ll show you two in the future.

After another day’s journey, the group finally returned to the grassland before sunset. The sky was vast, green waves rolled, wild flowers bloomed everywhere, and the vastness was endless as far as the eye could see, causing one’s mood to lift and brighten.

“So this is the grassland.” Berg took a deep breath.

There was smoke rising from the tribe, and some patrolling werebeasts had spotted them and were flying towards them.

“We are finally home.” Xiya said to the people behind him with a smile.

Lei Jin also wanted to nod, but suddenly he felt that the scenery in front of him began to blur.

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

“Lei Jin…!” Moya rarely lost his composure in such a way.

“I think I’m bleeding from the nose.” Lei Jin groaned in his heart. So many people from the tribe had come over, and it really affected his glorious image. There were two trails of blood hanging from his nose. He wanted Moya to wipe it for him quickly, but he found that his mouth also tasted salty.

The sky had darkened, was Lei Jin’s last conscious thought.

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Life and death can be a matter of a single instant. When the first saber-toothed beast suddenly lunged into the cave, Xiya leaped forward to meet it. Caught off guard, the beast let out a couple of agonized howls before collapsing to the ground, lifeless. Xiya tossed the dead beast far outside the cave and let out a low growl, a warning to the others. Moya and Mingya joined in, their growls signaling that there were three werebeasts here, hoping to scare the pack away.

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

“We’ve run into the saber-toothed beasts after all. These creatures won’t stop until their prey is dead. The chances of them leaving are slim. Elder Brother and I will go out soon. You stay close to Mingya and don’t leave his side,” Moya said, having shifted into his beast form. He licked Lei Jin’s face and added, “Take care of Lei Jin.” He glanced at Berg, who had also woken up, and added, “And Berg, if you can.”

Berg snorted. “I’m a male merfolk. I don’t need a little werebeast to protect me. Your little brother’s so soft, he’s lucky if he can protect himself.” With that, Berg shifted into his beast form, his massive golden tail faintly visible in the dark.

“Second Brother, Mingya doesn’t want to protect him. He’s not nice to Lei Jin,” Mingya said, pressing close to Lei Jin and rubbing his nose, clearly displeased with Berg.

“Mingya, be good,” Moya said, patting his head. There was no time for more words.

Outside the cave, countless pairs of yellow eyes glinted in the darkness, filled with cruelty and cunning.

Xiya and Moya stood side by side, their long shadows stretching to Lei Jin’s feet under the faint moonlight. The saber-toothed beasts didn’t attack immediately, and an eerie silence fell over the scene.

Facing such a situation, it was impossible not to feel fear. But Lei Jin knew fear was useless. The real question was how to protect himself and not become a burden. Mingya? He was just a child. If it came to it, Lei Jin would let him run. The little guy might not be strong, but he could at least escape.

Suddenly, a long, piercing screech came from outside, and the pack of saber-toothed beasts began to close in.

“Be careful. I don’t have time to clean up your corpses,” Lei Jin couldn’t help but shout, despite his best efforts to stay calm.

Both Xiya and Moya turned their heads, their big eyes shining as they wagged their tails at him.

“Idiots, look ahead!” Lei Jin snapped, exasperated.

Two saber-toothed beasts tried to take advantage of their distraction, lunging forward. But Xiya and Moya, without even looking, swatted them away with powerful blows. The beasts fell to the ground, dead.

Most wild beasts are bloodthirsty, and saber-toothed beasts are no exception—they’re even more vicious. The strong smell of blood only heightened their ferocity.

Xiya and Moya watched as the three dead beasts were quickly devoured by their pack. The fur on their necks bristled. They had seen cruelty before, but this level of savagery—eating their own kind—was rare.

The pack soon launched a full attack. Xiya and Moya fought back, gradually leading the beasts away from the cave.

Inside the cave, Lei Jin, Mingya, and Berg waited, unsure how much time had passed. It felt like an eternity, but it might have only been a short while.

“Why is it so quiet now?” Berg suddenly asked.

Lei Jin’s heart sank. He didn’t know whether he had been lucky so far, avoiding large-scale beast attacks since arriving in this world. Even when he and Mingya had traveled through the wilderness, they had never encountered anything like this.

Had something happened to Xiya and Moya? Lei Jin wanted to go out and check, but if they were fine, his presence would only distract them and put them in greater danger. He was torn.

“You two stay here. I’ll go out and see,” Berg said, his expression unusually serious. Despite his fish tail, he moved quickly and decisively.

Mingya, standing next to Lei Jin, perked up his ears, remaining vigilant. Hearing Berg’s words, his pupils contracted. “Don’t go out.”

But it was too late. Berg had already let out a startled cry.

A massive saber-toothed beast stood at the cave entrance, slowly advancing. It didn’t seem in a hurry to attack, but the malice in its eyes was unmistakable. It was larger than any they had seen before, its body nearly five meters long, with a slender neck and a massive head. Its mouth hung open, revealing rows of sharp teeth.

Berg took a few steps back but stopped when he saw Lei Jin and Mingya still inside. He thought, forget it. If I’m going to die, it might as well be here rather than at that man’s hands. Even if it’s not worth it for this annoying Lei Jin, but then again, aside from being arrogant and having a sharp tongue, he hasn’t been that bad to me.

“Mingya, take Lei Jin and run when you get the chance. I’ll handle this thing,” Berg said, his back to them as he kept his eyes on the beast.

“Berg, what are you doing?” Lei Jin was surprised by Berg’s sudden selflessness.

“I’m not doing this for you. Don’t you know I’ve always liked Moya?”

As soon as Berg finished speaking, he launched himself at the beast, swinging his tail hard at its head. The beast dodged, but Berg quickly followed up with another strike. The two were soon locked in combat, leaving an opening on the right side.

“Lei Jin, I’ll carry you out,” Mingya whispered.

“But what about Berg?” Lei Jin asked, watching the fight. Berg was clearly outmatched, relying only on his agility.

“I’ll take you out, hide you, and then come back to help him,” Mingya said, not waiting for Lei Jin’s consent. He wrapped his tail around Lei Jin and, despite his small size, managed to carry him out of the cave.

But they hadn’t gone far when the beast, having cornered Berg, turned and lunged at them. Lei Jin let out a muffled grunt.

“Lei Jin!”

“I’m fine. Keep going,” Lei Jin said calmly, though his back was bleeding from a deep gash.

Mingya didn’t see the wound but heard the beast’s growl. He ran as fast as he could, eventually finding a small tree hollow just big enough for one person.

“Lei Jin, hide here and don’t come out,” Mingya said after listening for any signs of danger.

“En,” Lei Jin nodded. The sky was beginning to lighten, signaling the end of this deadly night. But aside from him and Mingya, the others’ fates were uncertain.

“Why is Mingya’s fur red?” Mingya noticed blood dripping from his back, though he felt no pain.

“It’s Lei Jin’s,” Mingya realized, rushing to Lei Jin’s side. Tears streamed down his face as he asked, “Lei Jin, where are you hurt? Tell Mingya. Mingya will lick it better.”

Although Mingya had run quickly, the beast’s claw had still grazed Lei Jin, tearing off a large chunk of flesh from his shoulder.

There was no time to mourn. The beast, following the trail of blood, was closing in. Behind it were a dozen smaller beasts, each still three times Mingya’s size.

Another pack? Lei Jin thought wryly. I’m not even enough to get caught in their teeth.

Mingya, still crying, carefully licked Lei Jin’s wound, his tears making the pain even sharper.

“Mingya, go find Xiya and Moya,” Lei Jin said. There was no way both of them could escape now. If one could get away, it would have to be Mingya. As for Berg, the beast’s slower speed meant he was probably still alive. Lei Jin didn’t want to owe his life to that annoying guy.

“Mingya won’t leave. Mingya will protect you,” Mingya said, nuzzling Lei Jin.

Lei Jin looked at the little guy’s small frame and sighed. He was about to try to convince Mingya to leave when he noticed something strange. Mingya’s eyes, usually a clear blue, had turned a deep, almost black, shade of blue.

“Mingya?” Lei Jin called, startled.

What happened next was something Lei Jin could never have imagined. Mingya leaped into the midst of the saber-toothed beasts. By the time Xiya and Moya arrived, most of the beasts were dead, and the largest one was barely standing, its body riddled with fatal wounds. Mingya, his once pristine white fur now drenched in blood, seemed to have lost himself in the frenzy of killing. Every beast he attacked was torn to shreds, barely recognizable.

“Mingya…” Lei Jin called, sensing something was wrong.

Mingya turned to look at Lei Jin, his deep blue eyes now tinged with red. His gaze was cold and unfamiliar, making Lei Jin instinctively take a step back.

But Mingya didn’t seem to care. He turned back to continue his slaughter.

Moya, supporting Berg, arrived shortly after. Xiya rushed to Lei Jin’s side. “Are you okay?”

“What’s wrong with Mingya?” Lei Jin asked, his attention still fixed on the suddenly ferocious Mingya.

But when Xiya touched Lei Jin’s shoulder, he felt the blood. “Moya, where’s the medicine? Lei Jin’s hurt!”

Moya, hearing this, set Berg down on a rock and ran over with the medicine pouch. The herb that could stop bleeding quickly had dried out, so Moya chewed it in his mouth and applied it to Lei Jin’s wound. Fortunately, the injury hadn’t reached the bone, and the bleeding soon stopped, though the pain was still intense.

“Mingya, Lei Jin’s hurt,” Moya called out abruptly.

The largest beast was already dead, but Mingya was still tearing at its corpse. Hearing Moya’s words, his small body paused, his big blue eyes filling with tears again. He wanted to go to Lei Jin but hesitated, his body covered in blood. He crouched obediently a short distance away.

After a quick wash, Xiya helped Lei Jin change clothes, while Moya took Mingya to clean off the blood. The stench was overwhelming.

“What exactly happened with Mingya?” Lei Jin asked, still shaken. The transformation had been too sudden, too extreme. Was it some kind of split personality? The thought startled him.

“Lei Jin, don’t be afraid of Mingya. He won’t hurt you,” Xiya said, carefully avoiding Lei Jin’s wound.

Lei Jin raised an eyebrow, urging him to continue.

“Do you know who the previous leader of our Leopard Tribe was?” Xiya suddenly changed the subject.

Lei Jin was about to interrupt, not caring about tribal politics, but Xiya continued.

“It was Dad, An Luo.”

An Luo? The quiet, reserved man who barely spoke to anyone except Roger? He didn’t seem like leader material. Not that leaders had to be talkative, but they needed some outstanding qualities to command respect. An Luo didn’t seem to have any.

“Dad An Luo was the tribe’s greatest warrior.”

Lei Jin’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“It’s true. If it weren’t for what happened with papa…”

“Roger?”

“Never mind. That’s a story for another time. Do you know what white fur means in our world?” Xiya asked, tying Lei Jin’s clothes.

“Either abandonment or becoming the strongest.”

“You mean Mingya…”

Xiya nodded. “Mingya’s power is immense. Dads, Moya, and I all know this. When Mingya’s life is in danger, this power emerges. Only papa refuses to believe it.”

“But this time…” Mingya could have run away. His life wasn’t in immediate danger.

“In his heart, you’re more important than his life,” Xiya said with a sigh, understanding what Lei Jin was thinking.

“Lei Jin, look, Mingya’s clean again,” Mingya said, shaking the water from his fur and happily running over. He carefully leaned against Lei Jin and, exhausted, quickly fell asleep.

“Do you remember the first time you met Mingya?” Xiya asked, smoothing Mingya’s fur.

Of course, Lei Jin remembered. They had been hiding from a wild boar in a tree. After eating its meat a few times, Lei Jin had learned its name.

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

“That wild boar might be small and timid, but Mingya’s white fur was probably what scared it off. You two had a relatively smooth journey because Mingya scared away many timid creatures,” Xiya explained. Of course, the braver ones had been quietly dealt with by him and Moya.

Lei Jin found this explanation plausible but felt he was missing something. For example, why did Xiya’s account sound like he had witnessed it firsthand? And what about the dream he had after eating the fruit Mingya brought back, where three men had touched him so intimately…

Lei Jin narrowed his eyes, studying Xiya.

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