A few days passed in restlessness and unease, yet Lei Jin’s belly showed no adverse reactions. Instead, it felt comfortably warm. He began to suspect that the medicine Healer Qing Qiao had given him was ineffective. But at this moment, he didn’t feel like digging into the truth. Xiya and the others were still absent—Roger mentioned they were helping distribute the tribe’s harvest. With crops ripening one after another, the werebeasts of each household had been busy assisting. Now, everything was being allocated family by family to ensure ample food before winter arrived.  

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

Berg carried Bubbles out for breakfast.  

Lei Jin glanced up and greeted them before lowering his head again, listlessly pushing the food around in his bowl. He had no appetite.  

“Bubbles seems a bit listless these past couple of days,” Roger remarked, having already finished his meal. He took the child from Berg so the latter could eat.  

Seated beside Roger, Lei Jin took a closer look at Bubbles. The little one did seem unusually lethargic.  

“Maybe it’s the cold weather making him sluggish.” That was one explanation, but Berg knew the real reason. Merfolk were born to live in the sea. Though adults like him could move freely on land, they still preferred the boundless freedom of the ocean. For a child as young as Bubbles, the sea was the most suitable environment. Even though he often soaked in water here, it wasn’t the same as the vast ocean.  

“Bubbles.” Lei Jin stroked the child’s forehead and called his name softly.  

Bubbles perked up slightly, eyelids drooping as he nuzzled affectionately into Lei Jin’s palm.  

“He’s so attached to you. Here, you hold him. I’ll fetch the fish soup from the pot.” Roger chuckled and passed Bubbles to Lei Jin.  

Having held the child countless times, Lei Jin cradled him deftly—one hand supporting his neck, the other under his bottom.  

“Yaa yaa!” Bubbles’s tiny arms flailed, landing a light pat on Lei Jin’s belly.  

“Bubbles, behave.” Berg hastily swallowed a few more bites before reaching out. “Give him back to me. This child is too unruly.” Despite his words, his face was full of undisguised pride and doting affection.  

“It’s fine. I’ll hold him for a bit. How much trouble can such a little one cause?” Lei Jin brushed it off.  

“I’m worried he’ll hurt the one in your belly.” Berg rolled his eyes dramatically. A few days ago, Lei Jin had been adamant about aborting the baby, but now he seemed calmer, so Berg spoke without restraint.  

Lei Jin’s smile froze.  

Roger returned with the fish soup and set it on the table. Gently patting Lei Jin’s arm, he said, “Hand Bubbles to me. He hasn’t eaten yet, and the soup will get cold.”  

“Yaa yaa!” Just as Lei Jin was about to pass him over, Bubbles clutched his shirt tightly, tears welling in his eyes.  

A sharp pang struck Lei Jin’s heart. If his own child were born, would they be as adorable as Bubbles? Would they cling to him with such wholehearted dependence? Would they be reluctant to let him go? But all these “what ifs” were meaningless now—because that night, after much hesitation, he had drunk the medicine. Call him heartless, call him cruel—he simply couldn’t trade his future for this child.  

Though the baby was still inside him, he hadn’t felt any movement in days.  

“Lei Jin, what’s wrong?” Berg asked nervously, noticing his sudden change in expression. Had he misspoken?  

“Nothing. Here’s your son back.” Lei Jin soothed Bubbles briefly before firmly depositing the fussing child into Berg’s arms and standing abruptly.  

“Where are you going?” Roger rose as well. Before leaving, Xiya had mentioned that Lei Jin had taken the abortifacient two days prior and needed someone with him at all times.  

“Out for a walk.” Lei Jin waved dismissively, signaling he didn’t need company.  

“Wait for me. I’ll come too.” Roger pushed the fish soup toward Berg. “Feed Bubbles. I’m going out with Lei Jin.”  

“Okay.” Berg picked up the spoon, watching curiously as Roger hurried after Lei Jin. Lei Jin’s pregnant, but does he really need to be watched so closely?

“What? Afraid I’ll run off? Keeping an eye on me for Xiya and the others?” Lei Jin smirked as Roger caught up.  

Roger frowned. “You know that’s not it. Why make such jokes? Haven’t they conceded enough?” He understood Lei Jin’s perspective, but as a father, he couldn’t remain indifferent to his children’s pain.  

“Conceded? If not for them, there wouldn’t be this child. Why shouldn’t they concede?”  

“I won’t argue. Where do you want to go? I’ll walk with you.” The moods of expectant parents were unpredictable—words often didn’t reflect true feelings. And Lei Jin’s heart was undoubtedly tangled in contradictions.  

“Nowhere in particular.” He’d just felt stifled indoors and needed air.  

“Let’s visit the fields, then.” Roger remembered Lei Jin’s interest in the crops. Now that harvest was done, he could pick what he liked. If necessary, they could trade their family’s share for others’.  

“Fine.” Lei Jin shrugged.  

The temple stood at the tribe’s center, its towering form visible from every street, shrouded in unsolved mysteries—bizarre stone statues, enigmatic symbols, a celestial map of the stars.  

“Roger, do you regret coming to this world?” Lei Jin asked suddenly.  

“Yes.” Roger answered without hesitation.  

Lei Jin arched a brow in surprise.  

“What, did you think I came here willingly?” Roger countered.  

“Not exactly. But I assumed you wouldn’t regret it now.” To him, Roger seemed to have accepted this life, despite lingering unresolved conflicts. At the very least, he shouldn’t still be thinking of leaving.  

“I regret coming here, but not staying.”  

A yellow-winged butterfly with red spots fluttered past them.  

“You’ve lost me.” Did educated people always have to speak in riddles?  

“Lei Jin, what did you do before?” This was Roger’s first time asking. He’d never seen the need—in this world, the past was meant to be discarded.  

“Led a bunch of good brothers to scrape by.”  

Though Lei Jin’s words were vague, Roger understood. He wasn’t particularly surprised. Even without knowing the details, he’d sensed Lei Jin was no ordinary office worker. His personality was too unrestrained, too fiercely independent.  

“I used to be an archaeologist,” Roger offered casually.  

That caught Lei Jin off guard.  

“My father was a renowned paleontologist. From childhood, I aspired to be as accomplished as him—though I chose archaeology.” Roger gazed distantly at the sky, as if peering into memories.  

“How did you end up here?” Lei Jin was keenly interested. Perhaps finding commonalities would reveal a way home.  

“Years ago, we discovered a mysterious ruin—unlike any known civilization. No written language, just simple symbols. The surviving murals depicted people who could shift between human and beast forms. I found a black stone there, a ring shape. One rainy day, I took shelter in the ruins. When the rain stopped, I stepped out… and was here.”  

“A black stone too?” This confirmed Lei Jin’s suspicions. If the stone was the key to arriving here, it must also be the way back. Whether it would work or not, he needed to reclaim those two fragments from Xiya and Mingya. Though incomplete, they might form a ring when combined.  

“What about you?” Roger asked.  

“Mine’s even more absurd. I took a bath, stepped out, and ended up here—without even time to get dressed.” The memory irked him. At least let me grab some clothes for fuck’s sake. 

“Lei Jin, do you ever feel… none of this is real? That one day we’ll wake up and find it was all a long dream? That everyone here was just passing through our subconscious, never truly existing?”  

Lei Jin broke out in a cold sweat at the eerie thought. Not real? A dream? He shook Roger’s shoulders. “Roger, what kind of dream are you having? Wake up!”  

A dream? Then what was this bulging belly of his?  

Roger pushed his hands away. “It’s just a feeling.”  

“You’ve got too much free time if you’re fantasizing like this.” Lei Jin shot him a look.  

How could those three—who had played such significant roles in his life—simply not exist? He disliked that notion intensely. Even now, he had to admit that though his feelings toward each of them differed, they all occupied substantial space in his heart. But did that mean he had to bear their children? Lei Jin asked himself, but no clear answer came.  

As they talked and walked, they unknowingly arrived at the tribe’s fields.  

Most of the crops had already been distributed, leaving only the wheat still being threshed. On a compacted patch of ground, werebeasts pulled stone rollers over thick layers of spread-out wheat.  

Nearly every household in the tribe had sent people—at least a few hundred—but the open space kept it from feeling crowded. Each family received modest but well-rounded portions of the harvest. However, preferences varied—some wanted certain crops while others disliked them—so groups formed to negotiate exchanges.  

Lei Jin noticed that beans and chili peppers were the least popular. Almost every family wanted to trade them away—except Xiya’s household, who knew Lei Jin could cook them well and held onto theirs.  

“They only eat chili peppers in cold weather to warm up, and they don’t use much normally. As for beans, no one likes them—they take forever to cook and still taste terrible,” Roger explained from the side.  

“We still have plenty of potatoes at home, right?” Lei Jin suddenly asked.  

“Yeah. Our garden isn’t big, but the yield is decent.”  

“Let’s trade our potatoes for their beans.” He noticed potatoes and sweet potatoes were quite popular, probably because they could be eaten as staple food.  

“Sure. Let’s go talk to Xiya and the others.” Roger knew Lei Jin must have his reasons.  

As soon as they approached—  

“Lei Jin, you came? Are you dressed warmly enough?” Mingya bounded over cheerfully, clasping Lei Jin’s hands between his own and rubbing them gently. No one had told him about Lei Jin drinking the abortifacient.  

Lei Jin’s mood soured—even Mingya was taller than him now—but he didn’t bother stopping the boy’s affectionate gestures in public.  

Moya watched them approach with a faint smile, though the shadows in his eyes were impossible for Lei Jin to ignore.  

Someone was asking Xiya about trading goods, but he still managed to turn and greet them.  

Roger went over and spoke a few words to Xiya, who nodded. Soon, a man eagerly traded a large half-bag of beans for a small pile of potatoes.  

Seeing this, others rushed to ask for similar trades. By the end, their family’s potato pile had been exchanged for three full bags of beans.  

Just then, the tribal chief, An Bu, walked over. Frowning at the amount of beans they’d acquired, he asked, “Beans aren’t filling. Why trade for so many? I’ve got extra potatoes—take some from me later.”  

“No need, Uncle An Bu. We have enough food at home,” Xiya declined with a smile.  

An Bu sighed at the chaotic scene. “Every year at this time, it’s a mess. Some families want this, others hate that—but we can’t distribute based on preferences alone. It’d take forever.”  

“Then why not assign each family their own plot and let them grow what they want?” Lei Jin suggested after a moment’s thought.  

“That won’t work. Some elders and injured tribesmen can’t farm. We can’t abandon them.”  

“Families who farm could contribute a portion to the tribe each year, which could then be distributed to those in need. It’s not an unsolvable problem.”  

An Bu nodded thoughtfully but hesitated. “The tribe’s collective farming doesn’t yield much as it is. If each family farms alone, with less manpower, wouldn’t production drop even more? What if food runs short?”  

Lei Jin glanced at Roger, but seeing he wasn’t in the mood to speak, took over. “Actually, there’s no need to burn new fields every year. Many families keep live prey they haven’t eaten yet, right? Manure and wheat straw can be spread as fertilizer. Fertile land yields more.”  

“That’s possible? Those things are easy to get—every household has them!” someone nearby exclaimed excitedly.  

“And different crops can be planted in rotation.”  

Noticing the crowd’s confusion, Lei Jin gave an example: “For instance, we could plant wheat now and harvest it shortly after next year’s rainy season. Then we could plant sweet potatoes and potatoes right after—wouldn’t that mean two harvests a year?”  

“But won’t the wheat freeze when it gets colder soon?” People pressed closer to hear Lei Jin’s ideas.  

“It shouldn’t.” Lei Jin reasoned that since autumn here was long, winter probably wouldn’t be too harsh. Wheat should survive—but he couldn’t guarantee it outright. Failure would be disastrous, so he added, “We could try a small batch this year.”  

The crowd nodded, agreeing it was a safer approach.  

Xiya watched Lei Jin, lively and confident as he spoke to the crowd, and thought, this is the real Lei Jin—free and spirited. If he didn’t want the baby, why force him? But their unborn child…  

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

“What medicine did you give him?” Roger asked, standing outside the crowd while Mingya stuck close to Lei Jin.  

“White tea flowers from the poolside. I picked them myself,” Moya answered. Though he was puzzled—Healer Qing Qiao had said the abortion would happen within two days of drinking it. Why was there still no movement? Not that he was hoping for it.  

Roger was speechless. Qing Qiao’s mischievous streak really never changes.

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Lei Jin subconsciously covered his stomach—this was the first time he had so clearly acknowledged the fact that there was a child inside him.  

If he said he had never doubted it before, that would be a lie. After all, Healer Qing Qiao’s words that day still echoed in his ears, and his growing belly was undeniable. Not to mention, Xiya and Moya had been acting overly cautious lately—forbidding him from touching anything cold, always placing the best food in front of him, and layering his clothes thickly before the real cold even set in, as if afraid the wind might chill him. No matter how much they tried to disguise it as casual concern, Lei Jin had seen all kinds of people in his life. How could he not notice such obvious tactics? 

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

But with Chunji gone, he had no one to talk to. He was a grown man who had never been pregnant before—how could he be sure what pregnancy was really like? Though anxious, he could only pretend to go with the flow and wait.  

As for Berg and Roger—it wasn’t that they weren’t trustworthy, but he simply didn’t believe them. One was Xiya and Moya’s papa, and the other had once had feelings for Moya.  

He had already suspected it, so when Mingya mentioned it, he believed it immediately. Now that Moya had openly admitted it, there was no room for illusions.  

“How many months?” Lei Jin asked, finding the question absurd. He was the last to know about the child in his own body.  

“Almost six months,” Moya replied, glancing at him.  

He didn’t even bother asking whose it was. Counting back, six months could only mean that reckless afternoon in the seaside cave.  

Lei Jin pushed the blanket aside and got out of bed. The pain in his lower half made his steps unsteady, and Moya quickly steadied him. “The floor is covered in spilled medicine. Be careful not to slip.”  

Lei Jin shook him off and went to fetch his clothes from the cabinet. Lifting his legs to put on his pants sent a dull, tearing pain through him, and for the first time, he understood how Berg must have felt back then.  

It wasn’t even deep autumn yet, but he was already dressed in winter clothes. Su Rui’s sewing skills were excellent—though the thread was coarse, the stitches were tight, and the fit was perfect. The material resembled mink fur, glossy and black, lined with soft cotton. When Qi Luo had delivered the clothes, Mura had been there and exclaimed how wasteful it was—such fine cotton could have made several summer outfits.  

“Eat first. We can talk after,” Moya said, seeing Lei Jin about to walk out.  

Lei Jin ignored him and kept walking.  

Xiya came in from outside and, seeing Lei Jin, naturally reached to touch his forehead. “Finally awake! You slept a full day and night—we were all worried. Let me check if the fever’s gone.”  

Lei Jin slapped his hand away without a word and stepped past him toward the door.  

Xiya shot Moya a questioning look: What’s going on?

Moya didn’t answer, only hurried to stop Lei Jin at the threshold. “You haven’t eaten in a day. Where are you going? I know you’re angry we didn’t tell you sooner, but at first, we weren’t sure. It wasn’t until the baby was three or four months along that Healer Qing Qiao confirmed it. By then, the baby was already big, and you were injured. If we had aborted it then, your body wouldn’t have been able to handle it.”  

Xiya finally understood what was happening. The child had been in Lei Jin’s belly all along—they never expected to hide it forever. Seeing Lei Jin’s disbelief, he added, “Moya’s telling the truth. Healer Qing Qiao told me the same thing. I knew if I told you, you’d abort the baby no matter the cost, so I kept it from you. The fault is mine. If you’re angry, blame me.”  

“Eat something first. The food’s getting cold. After that, I won’t stop you from doing whatever you want.” He had a vague idea of what Lei Jin intended, but at this point, he no longer hoped for easy forgiveness.  

“Lei Jin, the chicken is really good today. Mingya saved the wings for you. Eat with me?” Mingya tugged timidly at Lei Jin’s sleeve.  

“So, you’re all acting like you’ve been considerate of me, and I’m the unreasonable one, risking my own health?” Lei Jin sneered. “I suppose I should just lie back, spread my legs, let you all take turns, and then pop out babies for you—that’s the right way, huh?”  

He knew his words were cruel, but he couldn’t stop them. His chest felt suffocated. Maybe Moya was telling the truth, but these people had deceived him over and over. Did “love” give them the right to control his life? He believed they cared about his health, but he didn’t believe they weren’t also using this to trap him.  

Staying in this world suited them—but had they ever considered the price he would pay? Living in a completely unfamiliar world, dependent on others for survival, was never what he wanted. And now, he was neither man nor woman, pregnant like some freak. He hated the sight of his swollen belly and punched it hard.  

“Don’t do that, Lei Jin.” Moya caught his wrist before he could strike again.  

Lei Jin backhanded him across the face, his gaze icy. “I won’t forgive you this time. You want this child—but did you ever think about my feelings?”  

Moya wiped the blood from his lip. “I know.”  

“I won’t give birth to it.” Lei Jin’s voice was merciless. He might have said he liked children, but he never said he wanted to bear them.  

“I’ll go to Healer Qing Qiao for the abortifacient. You’re still injured—you can’t walk that far.”  

“Second Brother?”  

“Moya!”  

“Forget it, Elder Brother.” Moya’s voice was flat.  

A storm of emotions crossed Xiya’s face—struggle, conflict—but in the end, he yielded. He understood Moya’s meaning. They had already prepared for a childless life—this was just feeling the loss again. But it was different now. He had felt the baby move against his palm at night, a tiny life. To kill it with his own hands—he didn’t want to accept it. But Lei Jin’s stance left no room for negotiation. The one carrying the child was Lei Jin. If he refused, who could force him?  

“Lei Jin, don’t you like the baby? Did it disobey you? But even a disobedient baby is still our baby. We can’t abandon it.” Mingya tugged at his hair, whispering.  

“Shut up!” Lei Jin snapped.  

Mingya bit his lip, peeking at him fearfully before falling silent.  

After a long pause, Xiya finally nodded. Lei Jin knew the matter was settled, but he felt no relief.  

Moya went to fetch Healer Qing Qiao, while Xiya reheated the meal—a large bowl of mushroom soup, a whole stewed chicken, and two bowls of rice.  

“Lei Jin, here are the wings.” Mingya dutifully plucked both chicken wings and placed them in Lei Jin’s bowl.  

Before Lei Jin arrived, the wings had always been Mingya’s favorite. But since then, Mingya had given them up—because Lei Jin liked them too.  

“Drink the soup first. You said you wanted it the other day. It’ll be good for you after just waking up.” Xiya pushed the soup toward him.  

Neither spoke after that, but Lei Jin could feel Xiya’s gaze lingering on his belly—full of sorrow and reluctance.  

He knew how much Xiya and Moya wanted a child. Looking back, they had dropped countless hints over the past months, but he had chosen to ignore them.  

Healer Qing Qiao arrived quickly, sweating and disheveled. He fixed Lei Jin with a stern look. “I heard you want to abort the baby?”  

Lei Jin wiped his mouth leisurely and stood, nodding in silent confirmation.  

“Do you know how hard it is for other families in the tribe to conceive? How can you just throw it away?” As a fellow female, Qing Qiao couldn’t fathom such ruthlessness.  

Lei Jin remained standing, but the resolve in his eyes was unmistakable. It was hard to believe such sharp, unyielding determination belonged to a female—and how could such a person ever resign himself to childbirth?  

“And you three agree?” Qing Qiao scanned them.  

“We’re still young, just adults. There’ll be other chances for children later,” Xiya spoke for them.  

Qing Qiao saw through the lie. Young? Just adults? Other chances? Nonsense. The truth was Lei Jin didn’t want it. It seemed An Sen’s household had once been ruled by Roger, and now Xiya’s home would be ruled by Lei Jin. Who would’ve thought? He had delivered these boys himself and watched them grow. Mingya might be soft, but Xiya and Moya had always been strong-willed. Yet Lei Jin had somehow tamed all three.  

“No need for medicine,” Qing Qiao said, addressing only Lei Jin.  

Lei Jin frowned. “Why?” Was there another way?  

“Didn’t Xiya tell you?”  

Lei Jin turned to Xiya—more secrets?  

“Let me explain,” Qing Qiao cut in before Xiya could speak. “Didn’t you wonder why, at two months, there was still no pulse?”  

That was something Lei Jin wanted to know. If he had known earlier, maybe…  

“I heard you were badly injured during the hunt. You conceived on the journey back—the jostling damaged the fetus early on. Then you ate the wrong thing and soaked in hot springs. That’s why there were no signs for so long. These past months, your body finally recovered somewhat, but then you were injured again two days ago. I’ve told Xiya—this child’s chances of surviving birth are slim. Even if it lives, it’ll be weaker than most. But Xiya refused to accept it. Now, at six months, aborting it would severely harm you. Even if it’s a female baby, just endure three more months—it’ll likely be stillborn anyway.”  

Lei Jin shook his head. He couldn’t wait that long. Suppressing his unease, he insisted, “No. I want it gone now.”  

“Why are you so stubborn?” Even the mild-mannered Qing Qiao lost his temper. Was this man so eager to destroy his own child, denying it even a chance at birth?  

“Healer Qing Qiao, don’t be mad at Lei Jin,” Mingya pleaded pitifully.  

Qing Qiao shot him a look. Hopeless. Still defending him at a time like this.  

“Healer Qing Qiao, give us the medicine,” Moya said, glancing at Lei Jin.  

“That’s your child.”  

“We’ll have others,” Xiya said, clinging to that hope.  

“There is no such medicine. When have you ever heard of our tribe aborting a child? Do you think we’d keep that around?” Qing Qiao refused outright.  

“Healer Qing Qiao, I know it exists,” Xiya said, checking Moya’s expression before adding, “My papa mentioned it.”  

“You—!” Qing Qiao was too furious to speak. Finally, he spat out, “Fine. If you’re so determined to kill it, I won’t stop you. Just don’t regret it later. There’s a deep pool in the back mountains—you know the one. White tea flowers grow by its edge. Boil ten blossoms into one bowl of water. It’ll induce miscarriage within two days.”  

Roger, having caught wind of the situation, arrived just as Qing Qiao was leaving.  

“Healer Qing Qiao—”  

Qing Qiao shot him a glare and stormed off without a word.  

At this point, Roger was the least qualified to persuade Lei Jin. He understood Lei Jin’s determination to leave. Lei Jin was far more decisive than he had ever been. If he had possessed even half that resolve twenty years ago, maybe he would have returned home. But he had made his choice—regretful, but unchangeable. He only hoped Lei Jin wouldn’t come to regret his.  

“Whatever you decide, healing your injuries comes first,” Roger said meaningfully.  

Moya personally gathered and brewed the white tea flowers. Through it all, he never tried to dissuade Lei Jin again.  

Night deepened, and none of the three returned. By evening, the bowl of medicine Moya had left on the windowsill had gone cold.  

Lei Jin tightened his clothes around him. The empty room felt unnaturally lonely.  

“Xiao Jin, sit here and be good. Mommy will be back soon.”  

He had been good. But in the end, he was still discarded—like an old, unwanted coat. No reluctance, no attachment. Maybe that woman had seen him as nothing but a burden.  

“Baby, it’s not that Dad doesn’t want you. But… wouldn’t it be better not to come at all, than to leave you alone in this world someday?”  

Lei Jin reached for the cold bowl of medicine.  

When Moya returned the next morning and saw the empty bowl on the windowsill, even prepared as he was, profound agony flashed in his eyes.  

Meanwhile, across the sea…  

“Are you sure?”  

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

“Not entirely. But from your description, it sounds like the person who followed the leopard werebeasts. They passed through our Wolf Tribe once and stayed the night.”  

“Heh… It must be him. I heard from his clan—he was obsessed with a leopard werebeast, even forced him into a bonding ceremony. So that’s where he’s been all this time? Chasing after him to his tribe? Hmph. Berg, you’ll never escape me.”

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Moya didn’t have time to explain further. In his haste, he dropped that vague reply and carried Lei Jin into the house.  

Berg didn’t catch much, but he heard the words “baby in the belly” loud and clear. Whose belly? Certainly not Moya’s—it had to be Lei Jin’s. He had noticed Lei Jin’s gradual weight gain but never dared entertain the thought. After all, if he guessed wrong, it would only lead to disappointment. Now, it seemed there really was a baby. But before he could feel joy, he spotted the blood on the ground and hurried after them, asking urgently, “What’s wrong with Lei Jin? Didn’t he go to see Mingya? What exactly happened?” 

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

In his panic, Berg’s voice rose slightly. Roger, resting in the west room, faintly heard Mingya’s name mentioned and couldn’t stay lying down. An Sen had to hold him back, preventing him from getting up, and signaled An Luo to go check.  

An Luo nodded silently and stepped out, just as Moya rushed in. Before he could speak, Moya quickly said, “Youngest Brother is fine. He’ll be back by evening.”  

An Luo noticed something was terribly wrong with Lei Jin in Moya’s arms—his face was deathly pale, and he was trembling uncontrollably. He wanted to ask more, but seeing Moya’s anxious expression, he decided not to delay them and returned to relay the news about Mingya to Roger.  

“Berg, could you fetch a basin of warm water from the kitchen?” Moya requested.  

Hearing that Mingya was fine, Roger’s expression eased. His illness had been caused by excessive worry over Mingya, leading to loss of appetite and a weakened body. Now that he knew Mingya was safe, his burden lifted, and he recovered half his strength. An Luo fed him a large bowl of black fish soup, and Roger soon looked much more energetic.  

Seeing him regaining his strength, An Luo hesitated briefly before deciding to tell Roger about Lei Jin’s condition. Firstly, he had smelled the heavy scent of blood on Lei Jin and knew the injuries were likely severe. But as fathers, they couldn’t inspect their son’s partner’s wounds themselves. Secondly, though Roger never said it aloud, he held Lei Jin in high regard. If something serious happened to Lei Jin and An Luo hid it, Roger would never forgive him. So despite Roger’s still-fragile condition, he told the truth.  

When Roger had returned home earlier, he’d been too dazed to realize Lei Jin had gone to see Mingya. Now, he couldn’t fathom how Lei Jin had gotten hurt. From what Roger had observed, no one in the tribe could easily overpower Lei Jin—even six months pregnant. And male werebeasts, knowing Lei Jin already had mates, wouldn’t dare harass or attack him. Though these thoughts flashed through Roger’s mind in an instant, he had no time to analyze them further.  

By the time Roger arrived, Moya was carefully wiping Lei Jin’s body. As he approached, the sight of the red and white sticky traces beneath Lei Jin made Roger gasp sharply. “What happened, Moya?” he asked gravely. What he really wanted to ask was who had done this, but seeing Lei Jin’s pained frown, he rephrased.  

In truth, Lei Jin was too dazed, struggling against the relentless pain in his lower abdomen, to pay attention to anything else. He only flinched slightly when Moya accidentally touched the wounds on his backside.  

“The old priest sent word that Mingya was dying, so Lei Jin went to him.”  

Moya gently massaged Lei Jin’s belly, speaking softly, “Does it still hurt? The healer will be here soon. Hold on a little longer. I’ll help you expel what’s inside, and then we’ll treat the wounds.”  

Upon examination, Moya found tearing. Though not severe, such a sensitive area must have been excruciating.  

Hearing this, Roger understood everything. Judging by Lei Jin’s injuries, he knew Mingya—even in his unaware state—had instinctively been mindful of Lei Jin’s condition. Still, he couldn’t help but resent his youngest son for his lack of restraint, which had hurt Lei Jin so badly.  

Berg brought in another basin of clean water. Moya murmured comforting words as he carefully inserted a finger. Lei Jin shuddered and mumbled a plea in his half-conscious state: “I’m tired, Mingya.”  

Moya’s heart ached unbearably. He had always vowed to protect Lei Jin, yet time and again, he watched him get hurt. What more could he do to truly shield him from harm?  

Roger sighed inwardly and patted Moya’s head.  

“I’m fine, Father.”  

Knowing this wasn’t the time to wallow, Moya forced himself to stay strong and whispered to Lei Jin, “If you’re tired, sleep a little. You’ll feel better when you wake up.”  

“Moya?” Lei Jin seemed to regain some clarity, recognizing Moya’s voice.  

“En, I’m here.” Moya squeezed his hand reassuringly.  

“Moya?” Lei Jin called again.  

“I’m right here.”  

“Moya… it hurts so much.” Lei Jin murmured weakly.  

Moya, who had been holding back tears, finally broke. This was the first time he’d ever heard Lei Jin admit weakness. Lei Jin was always strong and proud—if he said this, the pain must be unbearable.  

Though Roger stood by the bed, Lei Jin’s words were barely audible, so he didn’t catch them. Berg, standing farther away to give them privacy while Moya cleaned Lei Jin’s lower half, also missed it.  

They only saw Moya bury his face in Lei Jin’s neck, shoulders shaking violently. When he finally looked up, his eyes were red-rimmed. He forced a smile and said, “I know.”  

There was still plenty of the jade mugwort that Chunji had given Lei Jin back then. After cleaning him thoroughly, Moya applied the medicine. Thankfully, the bleeding had already stopped.  

Before arriving, Healer Qing Qiao had heard a bit from Xiya and prepared for the worst—possible signs of a miscarriage. But he also brought medicine to stabilize the pregnancy. Seeing the bleeding had stopped, he knew it wasn’t too severe—the baby was safe for now. Assuming the injuries were from Xiya and Moya’s youthful recklessness in bed, he scolded them harshly and forbade any intimacy for a month.  

Once he finished, Xiya asked, “Healer Qing Qiao, I’m worried his wounds might cause a fever tonight. Are there any herbs safe for pregnancy?” He remembered how Lei Jin had developed a low-grade fever just from being exposed to wind at the temple.  

“You’re right to worry. Pregnant individuals are prone to minor illnesses. Medicine should be avoided when possible, but if they’re sick, it can’t be helped.” Healer Qing Qiao listed a few herbs—common ones most werebeasts knew for emergencies during hunts.  

Xiya stayed with Lei Jin while Moya brewed a bowl of pregnancy-stabilizing medicine. Together, they carefully propped Lei Jin up and fed it to him. Seeing his tightly furrowed brows, they gave him some honey water. They took turns eating dinner, though neither had much appetite.  

Lei Jin desperately wanted to sleep, but someone nearby seemed determined to keep him awake—crying incessantly. He tried to treat it as background noise. Back in the bridge tunnels, he’d slept through trains rumbling overhead. But why did this person have to whisper his name between sobs? It wasn’t like he was dead yet. Finally, he snapped irritably, “Stop crying. Wait until I’m dead to mourn me.”  

Mingya immediately stopped, though hiccups lingered from his prolonged crying.  

Lei Jin rubbed his temples and wearily opened his eyes to see Mingya curled up on the floor beside the bed, face streaked with tears, looking utterly pitiful.  

“Lei Jin, you’re awake?” Mingya bit his lip, another hiccup escaping.  

“Come here.” Lei Jin sighed and beckoned.  

“Papa said Mingya’s a troublemaker and shouldn’t get close to you.” Mingya wiped his tears messily with the back of his hand, smearing his face.  

“Do you listen to me or your papa? If it’s me, come here. If it’s Roger, get out and stop bothering me.”  

Mingya thought for a moment and decided to obey Lei Jin. But his legs had gone numb from sitting on the floor, and he stood up too quickly, stumbling and nearly collapsing onto Lei Jin.  

“Stay back!” Even though Mingya wasn’t in beast form, Lei Jin’s eyes flashed with panic, and he instinctively pushed him away—though his weak arms barely had any strength.  

“I’m not feeling well. I don’t want you crushing me.” Seeing Mingya’s hurt expression, Lei Jin quickly added an excuse.  

The truth was, though he knew rationally that Mingya wasn’t entirely to blame, the psychological trauma of being with a leopard was too fresh. How could he treat its human form with the same trust as before? That familiar voice kept reminding him of what had happened in the temple—something he couldn’t erase.  

“Oh. Then Mingya will sit on the edge and won’t move.” Only Mingya would believe Lei Jin’s flimsy excuse.  

“En. Sit there, and we’ll talk.” Lei Jin pointed to a spot near the foot of the bed—not too close.  

Mingya stood, giving him a reluctant look, but obediently moved.  

“Didn’t you mature? Why are you still so small?” He remembered the leopard being quite large, but the human form seemed unchanged—still boyish, aside from a barely noticeable deepening of his voice.  

“Human forms wouldn’t have changed much. But Mingya grew taller!” Mingya stood to demonstrate.  

Without a reference point, it was hard to tell how much taller he’d gotten, but there did seem to be some growth. Lei Jin nodded.  

Mingya grinned sweetly and snuggled closer. “Mingya’s all grown up now. Mingya can take you flying!”  

Lei Jin stiffened but quickly forced a smile, patting Mingya’s cheek. “Go wash your face in the stream outside. You look like a mess.”  

“Lei Jin… do you not like Mingya anymore?” Mingya twisted his fingers, voice tiny.  

Mingya was sensitive. Though Lei Jin’s attitude shift wasn’t obvious, his words and actions carried a distance that hadn’t been there before.  

“I’m too tired to talk about this now.” Though Mingya was young, Lei Jin didn’t want to lie about feelings. His non-answer was as good as admitting he didn’t like him. But he overestimated Mingya’s comprehension—to Mingya, no outright rejection meant the affection remained. Both misunderstood each other.  

“Mingya knows he was wrong this time.” He didn’t dare admit that during the act, he’d been somewhat aware—but hadn’t wanted to stop, craving that closeness with Lei Jin.  

“Don’t do it again.” This was as close to forgiveness as he could offer. Since he was leaving soon, what else could he do? Kill the kid? Giving the silent treatment wouldn’t work on someone so oblivious to social cues.  

Mingya hesitated. He still wanted to be with Lei Jin. But seeing Lei Jin’s lips press into a thin line and his gaze turn cold, he guiltily whispered, “En. Mingya understands.”  

Lei Jin knew the promises of werebeasts were rarely reliable—the key was to stay vigilant. But since Mingya had agreed, he wouldn’t give him a chance to backtrack.  

“If you promise something, keep it. I hate liars.”  

Mingya’s ears twitched beneath his silver hair.  

“Lei Jin, the baby’s fine. Don’t worry.” Mingya agreed, his gaze dropping to Lei Jin’s stomach.  

“What did you say?” Lei Jin tried to sit up, but the movement sent pain radiating through his body—especially his lower half.  

“I said… the baby in your belly is fine.” Mingya blinked, noticing Lei Jin’s darkening expression.  

At that moment, Moya entered carrying an uncovered wooden box with several bowls. Seeing Lei Jin awake, he set it down and asked, “Are you feeling better now?”  

Lei Jin just stared at him, face blank.  

“What’s wrong?” Moya brought over a bowl of medicine, gesturing for Mingya to go eat at the table.  

“What is this?” Lei Jin eyed the dark liquid in Moya’s hand.  

Moya pressed his lips together calmly. “Pregnancy-stabilizing medicine.”  

“I didn’t hear you.” Though his tone was flat, his eyes were unreadable.  

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“Pregnancy-stabilizing medicine.” Whatever the outcome, he wouldn’t hide it anymore.  

Lei Jin knocked the bowl from Moya’s hands, meeting his gaze coldly. “No need. I never planned to keep it.”  

As if responding, the baby inside him kicked hard.

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“Youngest Brother, open the door, you will kill Lei Jin, open the door.” Moya’s eyes were bloodshot, and he banged on the door irrationally, trying to attract Mingya’s attention, because he clearly saw the liquid dripping from the stone table under Lei Jin. In addition to the sticky white release of the two, there was also a lot of blood. Mingya’s roughness undoubtedly meant that there was tearing, not to mention he had a child in his belly.

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But they didn’t dare to push the door down from the outside, because the stone table in the room was facing the stone door. If the stone door fell down, the two inside would be crushed to death if they couldn’t dodge in time.

“Mingya, I’m your eldest brother. Be obedient and let Lei Jin go first.” Xiya felt like he was going crazy. His papa had finally woken up but as soon as they got home, they heard Berg say that Lei Jin had entered the temple because of Mingya. He was afraid that something might happen to the two of them, so he rushed over. Who would have thought, something bad did indeed happen. Their little brother had just become an adult and was not fully aware of himself, and Lei Jin was six months pregnant and had difficulty moving. What should they do?

The old priest followed behind tremblingly, helpless. He had been knocked unconscious when Mingya slapped him out at the beginning. When he woke up, how could he not hear the sounds of intense intercourse inside? Thinking of going out to look for someone, he ran into Xiya and Moya.

Lei Jin’s legs were spread as wide as possible at this moment, hanging limply to the sides of the stone table. He was no longer fully conscious, everything in a daze. He fainted twice, but was awakened by the thing wedged in his body that stabbed deeper and deeper each time. His lower half was numb and had almost no feeling. Only his arms instinctively hugged the leopard on top of him as he begged for mercy and asked him to slow down.

The familiar voices of Moya and Xiya brought Lei Jin back to his senses. He forced open his heavy eyelids, and the first thing that caught his eye was Mingya’s leopard face. The blood-red color in his eyes had faded a lot, and azure blue and light red overlapped, which was indescribably weird. However, Lei Jin knew that this was still Mingya, and he was not very scared. It seemed that because someone came, Mingya’s emotions began to fluctuate violently again, and the most obvious result was that the thrusting came even harder.

“You are mine…you are mine…” Mingya said this every time he moved. It was as if he said it often enough, the person under him would be his.

“Mingya, I’m here, here.” Lei Jin pulled himself together a little. He vaguely knew that Mingya regarded him as his property and was afraid that the werebeasts outside would come in and snatch him away, which made him anxious.

“So good…” I really want to stay in this person’s body forever. It’s so warm. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this kind of warmth before.

“Mingya, I’m Lei Jin. Do you still recognize me? I’m Lei Jin. Think.” Lei Jin put his arms around Mingya’s neck and skillfully kneaded his back with his hands.

“We met in the jungle, do you remember? There was a very tall tree, and you were standing behind me…” He really didn’t have the energy to reminisce about the past, but if Mingya didn’t let go, the two of them would have to stay here in a stalemate.

Mingya’s motions gradually stopped and he looked confused.

“There was a dragon pig under the tree, and I was lying on the tree branch…” Lei Jin slowly induced him to recall the situation at that time. He marveled that his patience was getting better day by day. Even if he couldn’t be the mob boss when he returned, it would be good enough for him to apply for a position as a kindergarten teacher.

“What’s going on inside?” The old priest heard no movement from inside. Xiya and Moya were blocking the way in front, and he couldn’t see the situation inside, so he couldn’t help but ask. Moya didn’t turn back. Hearing this, he only said lightly: “Wait a moment.” He knew what Lei Jin wanted to do. The only way now was to have Mingya wake up by himself.

The enormous pain that werebeasts face when they reach adulthood stimulates the animal nature hidden in their bodies. During the period when they lose their minds, they do not recognize anyone. If they meet a werebeast at this time, they will fight to the death, and even females cannot escape the danger. That was why the werebeast coming-of-age ceremony in the tribe was set up in the most solid place in the temple, and the newly adult werebeasts would never be let out until sunset. When the sun sets, their minds would finally become clear.

It was just past noon now and the sun was shining brightly. No one could guarantee whether Mingya could wake up.

The two inside were still in a connected position. Recalling all the details of their time together in the jungle, Lei Jin realized that it was not actually a very happy time, but he still remembered it so clearly.

“We also grilled fish…”

“Lei Jin was not wearing any clothes at the time. That place was pink and tender, very pretty…” Mingya continued.

When Lei Jin heard him say this, he was so annoyed that he raised his hand and slapped him. Then he reacted and said in delighted surprise, “Mingya, are you really awake this time?”

He wasn’t lying to him again and try to continue what they were doing, was he you?

“Lei Jin, I’m Mingya…” The hot tears welling in his eyes, which had turned blue at some point, fell onto Lei Jin’s face.

Once confirmed, Lei Jin felt relieved, but gathered the little strength in his hands and smacked Mingya’s head, cursing, “Fuck, you little bastard, you almost killed me. Did you know that you forced me? You are so bold. If I don’t kill you today, my surname won’t be Lei.”

Mingya didn’t dare to dodge, but his body trembled when Lei Jin hit him hard. However, this tiny movement was clearly transmitted to Lei Jin, reminding both of them of their current position.

Lei Jin’s face turned suspiciously blue. He raised his knee and fiercely kneed Mingya’s soft abdomen. He smacked him again and said through gritted teeth, “You are still addicted being in there? Why aren’t you pulling out your thing?”

“Oh, oh…” Mingya agreed obediently and pulled with force.

It might be injured there. Lei Jin grimaced in pain and yelled, “Slow down, do you want to hurt me to death…”

Mingya obediently went in a little and then slowly moved outwards rubbing the inner wall.

Lei Jin yelled again: “How long do you want to delay?”

Mingya was in a panic and didn’t know what to do.

Lei Jin simply propped himself up with his arms and retreated. Although his inner walls were in great pain, he still subconsciously squeezed when Mingya was about to pull completely out. He cursed himself in his heart and forced himself to relax. With a wet sound, the two separated and a large amount of sticky white liquid with streaks of blood flowed out unhindered.

“Go open the door.” Seeing this, Lei Jin’s limbs stiffened. After a long while, he picked up the new clothes under him and wiped himself, then said to Mingya with a dark face.

The clothes originally on him were torn to shreds by Mingya, and Mingya’s new clothes had already been stained from being placed under the two of them. How were they going to get back like this? Besides, he had just used up all his strength, and now his vision was darkening and his stomach was aching badly.

“Eldest Brother, Second Brother, get out of the way, Mingya will break the door open.” While Lei Jin was worrying, Mingya had already smashed the door open with a loud bang.

Before the rubble at the door even fell, Moya had already run in, hugged Lei Jin in his arms, and asked anxiously: “What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?” As he spoke, his finger reached behind him.

“Still alive.” Lei Jin pulled the corners of his mouth, trying to give Moya a comforting smile. He held Moya’s hand and said, “Don’t touch it. It hurts a lot. I think it’s torn apart bit inside. Go home and apply some medicine.”

“Okay, let’s go home now.” Moya took off his tunic, wrapped it around Lei Jin, and held him horizontally in his arms.

At this time, Lei Jin didn’t care about his image anymore because he had no strength left. The familiar scent coming from Moya made him close his eyes with peace of mind.

“Second Brother…” Mingya called out anxiously.

Moya glanced at him calmly and said, “Stay here and go home when the sun sets.”

Mingya nodded and wanted to look at Lei Jin again, but he had already fallen asleep in his second brother’s arms, and all he could see was a head of messy black hair.

Moya carried Lei Jin out.

Xiya pressed their little brother’s head and poked his forehead hard twice, anxious and angry, but forced himself to calm down and said, “You, you, what can I say? Oh, forget it, I know I can’t blame you for this, but do you know? Lei Jin has a baby in his belly, it’s six months old, you’ve made such a mess, it’s hard to say whether he can keep it.”

“Lei Jin has a baby?” Mingya was very happy when he heard it, but after hearing what his eldest brother said, he was worried that the baby would be lost, so he sat on the ground in a daze, tears rolling down his face.

“Not necessarily yet. I have to go back quickly and ask Healer Qing Qiao to take a look. The rules of the tribe cannot be broken. You should listen to your second brother and wait here until sunset before going home.” Xiya didn’t have the mind to stay and comfort Mingya right now. Being at Lei Jin’s side was more important.

Taking another look at the bloodstains beside the stone table, Xiya’s heart began beating wildly. He hurriedly gave instructions and left.

The old priest looked at the broken stone door on the ground, and then at Mingya who was crying bitterly on the stone table. No matter how he looked at it, he felt that it was so strange. One must know, the tribe was afraid that the newly-adult werebeasts would lose their minds and rush out, so they built this heavy stone door specially. Two ordinary werebeasts could not break it open even if they worked together, but this newly-adult werebeast smashed it to pieces in one go. What kind of power was this? But the werebeast in front of him who was crying like a child did just that. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed it.

The old priest thought to himself, forget it, I’d better leave quickly, otherwise he will lose his mind, and his old bones can’t withstand his blow.

Halfway back home, Moya heard the person in his arms groaning in pain.

“Lei Jin, does it hurt there?”

“No, it’s my stomach. It feels heavy and painful…” Lei Jin clutched his stomach and said with pale lips.

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Moya felt the hand holding Lei Jin from underneath become sticky, and when he looked, it was covered in blood…

Berg was at the door, and when he saw Moya flying over with Lei Jin in his arms, he quickly stepped forward and asked, “What happened to Lei Jin?”

“The baby in his belly…”

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With Lei Jin’s arms healed, he began busying himself with preparations to return home. Though he was reluctant to leave, he knew it was better to go sooner rather than later—this way, everyone could move on sooner.  

Of course, he kept this plan a secret from Xiya and Moya, unsure whether they would let him go. He didn’t want to gamble with his chance to return home. Naturally, Roger found out, since Lei Jin needed the map from him. When Roger confirmed that Lei Jin was still determined to leave, his expression turned strange, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. But in the end, he shared what he knew.  

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“You’re saying that if we replace the missing third stone in the mural at the top of the temple, a secret passage will appear, leading directly to the forbidden spot?” Lei Jin found it hard to believe.  

Roger nodded firmly. “That’s how I reached the forbidden spot. Otherwise, crossing that jungle alone would be nearly impossible for someone like us.”  

Lei Jin agreed. He knew full well the dangers—not just the wild beasts lurking everywhere, but the jungle’s complex terrain was beyond his ability to navigate alone.  

“So where is that stone now?” Since Roger had been there, he must have had it, right?  

“I threw it away.” Roger smiled sheepishly.  

“What?” Lei Jin rubbed his ears, wondering if he’d misheard. How could Roger have discarded something so crucial?  

“I didn’t expect someone to come looking for it twenty years later.” At the time, he’d been too angry to care.  

“Where did you throw it?” This was the key to his way home. He could only cling to the slim hope of finding it.  

“I just tossed it randomly. Who knows where it landed on the grassland?”  

The grassland was vast, and the stone was tiny. The chances of finding it were practically zero.  

Frustrated, Lei Jin tugged at his hair. Watching his chance to return home slip away, he felt like killing someone—but he couldn’t blame Roger. How could he hold someone accountable for something lost twenty years ago? Even he wasn’t that unreasonable.  

“Last time, I thought you could enter directly through the jungle, so I didn’t mention this.”  

What use was that now? No, if this path was blocked, there had to be another way. No matter what, he had to leave before the year ended. After that, he had a feeling it would be too late.  

Though Roger felt somewhat guilty, he didn’t know how to comfort Lei Jin. Given Lei Jin’s stubbornness, persuading him to give up was impossible. At this time, someone came to inform them that the young werebeasts awaiting their coming-of-age ceremony wouldn’t be returning for meals starting that noon.  

As the ceremony drew closer, Mingya and the others spent more and more time at the temple. Lei Jin noticed the little guy wasn’t as lively as usual when he came home. Though worried, Lei Jin had been preoccupied with his secret plans to return to his own world and was often tired himself, so he hadn’t paid much attention. Now, with Roger’s revelation about the missing stone, his plans were temporarily shelved. Mingya’s ceremony was only about ten days away, and Lei Jin grew increasingly anxious, sensing something ominous. Even he, who never believed in gods, found himself praying for the little guy’s safety.  

“I’ll make lunch for Mingya today and take it to him.” It was the least he could do.  

“I’ll help.” Roger glanced at Lei Jin’s belly, now noticeably protruding after nearly six months. If not for Jia Nuo spreading rumors in the tribe that Lei Jin couldn’t have children, people might have suspected he was pregnant. As for Lei Jin’s own thoughts—Roger didn’t dare guess. Did he truly not know? Or was he simply refusing to accept the truth?  

Lei Jin decided to make braised chicken with potatoes. Though the tribe’s harvest hadn’t been distributed yet, Roger’s garden was ready for picking. Bending to pull up potatoes and onions, a usually simple task, was now awkward with his belly in the way.  

“Let me.” Roger subtly steadied him and plucked two onions and a potato.  

“This year’s potatoes are especially big—some as large as a bowl.” This one plant had four or five large ones, plus a few smaller ones.  

“Grab one more. We’ll make extra for the family.” Though the werebeasts were away, Berg and Roger still needed to eat.  

While Roger tended the fire, Lei Jin stir-fried the chicken with onions. Once the aroma filled the air, he added water and let it boil before adding the potatoes. After simmering for over half an hour, the broth turned a rich creamy yellow, infused with the chicken’s flavor. Just before serving, Lei Jin seasoned it with salt and mushroom powder. The meat was tender, and the potatoes soaked up the delicious broth.  

After packing a clay pot for Mingya, Lei Jin added a handful of chili peppers to the remaining stew. Taking a sip, he found it wonderfully spicy and warming—perfect for this season.  

But Roger said that werebeasts couldn’t eat too much chili, so despite the family’s love for it, Lei Jin usually controlled the amount. But today, with all the werebeasts away, the rest could indulge.  

“What’s for lunch? It smells amazing.” Berg appeared at the kitchen door, holding Bubbles.  

“Ya ya ya ya…” Bubbles’ features had filled out, making him look like a plump little bun. His adoration for Lei Jin remained unchanged—every time he saw him, he’d stretch out his chubby arms, wailing inconsolably if he wasn’t picked up.  

Like now. Lei Jin had no choice but to take him.  

“Ya ya ya ya…” Bubbles wriggled happily in his arms.  

“Yeah, yeah, good…” Lei Jin mumbled, holding his tiny fists. He had no idea what the baby was saying, but it had been over a month since Bubbles’ birth, and Lan Qi still hadn’t shown up. It was strange—not that he wanted him to, but given the man’s domineering attitude, he didn’t seem the patient type. If he knew Berg’s whereabouts, could he really resist coming? Regardless, Lan Qi’s absence meant peace, which was for the best. The only worry now was the little guy’s coming-of-age ceremony.  

Mingya had been peeking out the temple door repeatedly, finally spotting Lei Jin’s figure and rushing over excitedly. With the cold weather, Lei Jin was bundled up, making him look even rounder.  

The temple’s side hall had small low tables where families had already delivered food. The young werebeasts were eating happily. Lei Jin chose an empty corner table, set down the clay pot, and lifted the lid. The rich aroma drew envious glances from nearby werebeasts.  

“Smells amazing! Did Lei Jin make this for Mingya?” Mingya’s mouth watered.  

“Eat up.” Lei Jin handed him a spoon.  

Mingya eagerly scooped a piece of chicken. It melted in his mouth after just a few chews. “So good! Mingya loves your cooking.”  

The sound of swallowing around them was impossible to ignore.  

“Can Mingya share a bite with them?” Mingya asked.  

Lei Jin nodded.  

“Come here! One piece each. Mingya’s mate made this for him!” Mingya sneaked a glance at Lei Jin, puffing up proudly when he didn’t object.  

Lei Jin knew exactly what the little guy was up to, but at this point, he’d indulge him while he could.  

As the ceremony neared, Mingya had to stay at the temple overnight. Lei Jin cooked him all sorts of nourishing meals.  

Thanks to Lei Jin’s skills, he gained quite a following among the soon-to-be-adult werebeasts. After Mingya shared his food the first time and went hungry, Lei Jin started making extra—one portion for Mingya, another for the others. This small act earned him praise from the werebeasts’ families, who spoke highly of him wherever they went.  

From the awkward position of being “unable to have children,” Lei Jin’s popularity skyrocketed—something he never expected.  

After some time passed, the day of Mingya’s coming-of-age ceremony arrived. Early in the morning, Roger sent a set of new clothes to the temple. If Mingya successfully transitioned into adulthood, he would be able to maintain his human form permanently and could come out wearing the new clothes.  

If things didn’t go well, yesterday might have been the last time he saw the little guy. Today, only their papa could enter to deliver the clothes.  

“Don’t worry too much. Mingya will definitely get through this. You’ve seen how astonishing his hidden power is,” said Berg. Lei Jin and Berg sat in the main room, waiting for news while Bubbles had just fallen asleep.  

“Yeah, that little troublemaker always manages to escape danger unscathed,” Lei Jin replied. Logically, there was nothing to worry about, yet an uneasy feeling lingered in his heart.  

Earlier, Xiya had returned with news that Roger had collapsed as soon as he left the temple and seemed seriously ill. Roger was the type to stubbornly endure everything, and though he bore the heaviest mental burden regarding Mingya, he acted as if nothing was wrong every day. Even when Lei Jin invited him to join in delivering meals to Mingya, he refused, saying there was nothing to see and that waiting for Mingya to return home was the same.  

“So, just relax,” Berg said, patting Lei Jin’s shoulder, only to find his body stiff with tension.  

“En,” Lei Jin forced a laugh, though his mouth tasted bitter.  

What a fake smile, Berg thought to himself. But despite his words of reassurance, who could truly remain calm at such a life-and-death moment?  

Time passed minute by minute, with only the soft sound of sand flowing in the hourglass in the corner marking its passage. The ceremony began at sunrise and would end at sunset.  

In a daze, Lei Jin thought he heard heart-wrenching cries from the street. As they grew closer, he realized someone was truly weeping.  

Lei Jin and Berg simultaneously stood and rushed outside. A family was approaching from the direction of the temple, with the leading female carrying a small, gray-black-furred werebeast in her arms. His head hung limply, clearly lifeless. Lei Jin remembered this little werebeast—he had once gotten into a fight, leaving a notch in his left ear. Every time he saw Lei Jin, the little guy would shyly cover his notched ear with a paw.  

As the group passed by, the dad trailing behind sighed deeply upon seeing Lei Jin. “Three already, and it’s not even midday. The calamity of the cycle year is unavoidable.”  

They walked away.  

“Let’s go back. No news means good news,” Berg said, pulling Lei Jin inside.  

Before they could step over the threshold, someone called from behind, “Is anyone from Mingya’s family home?”  

Lei Jin turned to see a middle-aged werebeast he had seen a few times in the tribe.

“Quick, go to the temple! If you’re late, you won’t see him again!” The werebeast recognized Lei Jin as the shared mate of the family’s sons.  

At that moment, Berg felt Lei Jin’s hand turn frighteningly cold.  

Lei Jin didn’t let Berg follow him—after all, Bubbles couldn’t be left alone at home. By the time he reached the temple, two more small werebeasts had been carried out, dead.  

“Mingya hasn’t moved in a long time. He’s probably gone. Go in and bring him out,” the elderly priest said, opening the temple door for Lei Jin.  

This was Lei Jin’s first time entering the temple, but he had no mind to observe his surroundings. The corridor was damp and cold, with agonized cries and the sound of claws scraping against walls echoing from the rooms on either side. The screams were so piercing that one wished to cover their ears. These children are struggling between life and death—of course their cries are filled with pain, Lei Jin thought.  

The old priest opened the innermost room. As the heavy stone door creaked open, the interior was revealed—a large space with only a sliver of sunlight filtering through a small window, leaving it dim and shadowed. Thick straw covered the floor, and in the center stood a long stone table with a neatly folded set of new clothes. Otherwise, the room was barren—less a ceremonial site and more a prison cell.  

A white figure lay motionless in the darkest corner, barely visible.  

“Mingya,” Lei Jin called as he stepped inside, unwilling to believe that the little guy who had snuggled in his arms just yesterday was now gone.  

The white figure didn’t stir.  

Lei Jin took a few steps closer, but something felt off—the body was far too large. Mingya had always been so small.  

“Mingya, is that you?” he called again, cautiously moving forward. The straw rustled faintly.  

“Lei Jin, get out now!” The elderly priest sensed danger and shouted.  

But it was too late.  

The white beast in the corner slowly opened its eyes—blood-red, just like when Mingya had faced the saber-toothed beast that night. But this body was easily ten times larger than Mingya’s.  

With a flap of his massive wings, the beast stood and advanced toward Lei Jin.  

This was Mingya—yet not the familiar, beloved little guy Lei Jin knew.  

“Lei Jin, get out! A newly adult werebeast doesn’t recognize anyone in the first—” The elderly priest’s warning was cut off as the stone door slammed shut in front of him, sealed by Mingya’s powerful wings.  

The blazing look in the beast’s eyes made Lei Jin flush with both embarrassment and anger. He had seen that gaze in Xiya and Moya’s eyes many times before and knew exactly what it meant.  

But that knowledge only made him more desperate to escape—because what stood before him now was a true leopard, one intent on claiming him.  

The only exit was the sealed door. With no other way out, Lei Jin had to try.  

As Mingya advanced, Lei Jin retreated step by step, his back eventually hitting the cold stone wall.  

Forcing himself to stay calm, he waved a hand to distract the beast. “Mingya, Mingya, do you recognize me?”  

The giant Mingya only stared blankly, his eyes darkening with desire.  

This is bad. Really bad. Lei Jin’s mind raced. I’m going to die here today—and the cause of death? Getting fucked to death by a leopard.

No way in hell would he let his naked corpse be put on display posthumously.  

In a flash, Lei Jin bent down, grabbed a handful of straw, and hurled it at Mingya’s face. The moment the beast blinked, Lei Jin spun and yanked at the stone door with all his strength—but it didn’t budge.  

A rush of air warned him just in time. Lei Jin dodged right, but his heavy belly slowed him. A chilly draft hit him as Mingya’s claws tore through the left side of his shirt, leaving him half-bare.  

Trapped, Lei Jin could only buy time, praying for rescue. He dodged and weaved, relying on whatever agility he still had, but he knew it was a losing battle. His stamina was no match for a werebeast’s. Once exhaustion took over, he’d be at Mingya’s mercy.  

Though he avoided being pinned, his clothes weren’t so lucky. After a few rounds, only his shoes remained. The more skin he exposed, the more frenzied Mingya became, his breath growing ragged.  

Soon, Lei Jin’s strength waned. Fatigue weighed on him, and he hadn’t eaten much that morning due to worry. He could already feel Mingya’s hot breath against his skin.  

The next moment, despite sensing the attack, Lei Jin’s legs gave out. Mingya’s massive paws pressed him face-down into the straw.  

Strangely, the beast didn’t harm him—even when pouncing, Mingya hadn’t used his full weight.  

Lei Jin was flipped onto his back, legs forced apart. A rough, wet tongue scraped over his skin, followed by sharp teeth nipping at his ears, jaw, neck, and chest.  

“Get… off… Mingya…” Lei Jin’s sensitive body trembled as he writhed.  

Hearing his voice, Mingya’s eyes briefly cleared—only to darken again at the sight of the naked, squirming body beneath him.  

“Mine… You’re mine…” Mingya murmured.  

Lei Jin seized the sliver of hope. “Mingya! It’s me, Lei Jin! Wake up! Look at me!”  

But the words only seemed to trigger the beast further.  

“Lei Jin? Mine… Lei Jin is mine…”  

A sharp gasp escaped Lei Jin as Mingya’s tongue enveloped his member, licking and sucking until his hips jerked uncontrollably.  

“Mingya… stop… ah—” His hands strained against the beast’s grip.  

Overstimulated, Lei Jin arched, spilling into Mingya’s mouth with a choked cry.  

“Hurts… hurts…” Mingya rutted against Lei Jin’s thigh, his massive length seeking entry.  

It’s too big. Lei Jin’s stomach twisted at the sight—thick as Bubbles’ arm, rigid and throbbing. If that thing entered him, the pain alone might kill him.  

“Mingya, good boy… let go of my hands. I’ll help you… it’ll feel better soon.” Lei Jin softened his voice, coaxing. If he could get Mingya to come once, he might avoid the worst.  

Mingya hesitated, then slowly released one paw, then the other when Lei Jin didn’t resist.  

The moment he was free, Lei Jin scrambled up, shaking out his numb arms.  

The beast watched him warily before rolling onto his back, legs splayed, erection on full display.  

Lei Jin’s leg twitched—how satisfying it would be to stomp on it. But survival demanded cooperation.  

“Don’t move,” he ordered, kneeling. His hands trembled as he wrapped them around the heated length.  

Mingya groaned, surrendering to Lei Jin’s touch.  

Never thought I’d be reduced to jerking off a giant leopard. Minutes dragged by, his knees aching, yet Mingya showed no sign of release.  

“I refuse to believe I can’t handle this.” Though his bedroom skills had once been top-tier, they were nearly useless now.  

Gritting his teeth, Lei Jin straddled Mingya’s stomach, focusing entirely on the task. One hand gripped the base, alternating between gentle strokes and rough twists, nails lightly scraping the tip.  

Mingya’s body shuddered violently.  

“Lei Jin…” he whimpered. So good… but not enough. His paws slid over Lei Jin’s thighs, gripping his hips as the man’s bottom swayed above him, the pink entrance teasingly visible.  

Without thinking, Lei Jin smacked the wandering paws away. “Stop moving! Can’t you see I’m busy?”  

But the moment the words left his mouth, he froze. This wasn’t the little troublemaker he could scold—this was a beast driven by instinct.  

“I need to be inside… make him mine,” Mingya’s muddled thoughts whispered.  

In an instant, Lei Jin was flipped onto the stone table, chest pressed against the cold surface, legs forced wide. Mingya’s tongue lapped at his entrance before plunging deep, striking his prostate with brutal precision.  

“Mingya—no! Ah!” Lei Jin’s back arched, torn between pain and pleasure.  

The beast withdrew only to drip scorching pre-cum over his hole. Lei Jin reached back, fingers brushing the monstrous girth, and broke into a cold sweat.  

But his weakened body couldn’t resist as Mingya’s tip pressed inside, stretching him with shallow thrusts.  

“I’m coming in… coming in…” Mingya growled.  

Lei Jin’s muscles clenched involuntarily, only making the penetration more unbearable.  

Then—  

“Lei Jin…” Mingya’s voice softened, almost childlike.  

“Mingya, snap out of—AH!” A searing pain ripped through him as Mingya sheathed halfway in one brutal push.  

The thought of that thing burying itself completely filled Lei Jin with pure terror.  

Mingya’s tongue dragged up his spine, the soft fur rubbing against his back a constant reminder—this is a beast.  

Logically, Lei Jin knew survival mattered more than pride. But the humiliation of being taken by an animal shattered his composure.  

“Mingya, pull out… please…”  

Instead, the beast thrust deeper, each movement sending shocks of pain and pleasure through Lei Jin’s overstimulated body.  

“You’re mine… mine…” Mingya chanted, his pace turning frantic.  

Lei Jin came untouched, his release splattering the straw beneath him as Mingya’s claws dug into his hips, slamming into him with unchecked ferocity.  

With a final roar, Mingya buried himself to the hilt, flooding Lei Jin’s insides with scorching heat.  

The excess dripped down his thighs, all the way to his ankles.  

As Mingya pulled out, Lei Jin collapsed onto the straw, dazed and trembling.  

But the beast wasn’t done.  

“No more…” Lei Jin weakly protested as Mingya loomed over him again.  

The beast licked up his legs, removing his last remaining shoe before spreading his thighs. This time, his slicked entrance offered little resistance.  

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Lei Jin moaned softly, his pliant body rocking with each thrust.  

When Xiya and Moya finally arrived after receiving the news, what they saw through the narrow gap in the door was this: on the table, the only spot where sunlight could reach, Lei Jin was lying on his back with his legs spread wide, arms tightly wrapped around the neck of the massive white beast atop him, submitting as the beast moved fiercely within him.

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“You two were sneakily feasting without calling me? I’m mad.” As he spoke, Xiya stripped off his clothes and pressed close, one hand sliding between Lei Jin’s spread legs to grasp his front, squeezing lightly. “Bastard… don’t… it hurts…” Lei Jin struggled violently, but Xiya’s scorching heat rubbed insistently against his entrance, the dripping tip attempting to push in.  

“Relax, I’m not going in yet.” He knew Lei Jin couldn’t handle both of them at once. 

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“Mmm… stop moving…” Moya groaned, kneading Lei Jin’s tempting buttocks as he adjusted his angle, driving in deeper.  

“Ah… ah…” After countless thrusts, Lei Jin felt hot liquid gush inside him, his body going limp from the overwhelming sensation.  

The moment Moya pulled out, leaving him empty, Lei Jin barely had time to react before Xiya lifted his right leg and slammed in to the hilt.  

The stimulation of being filled to the root made Lei Jin tremble all over, instinctively clenching tight around Xiya.  

“Relax… I can’t even move like this…” Xiya bit the earlobe right in front of him, breathing heavily.  

“Nngh… ah… slower…” Lei Jin reached back to grip Xiya’s neck, trying to relax, but Xiya immediately picked up a rapid pace.  

Moya, holding Lei Jin’s slender waist from the front, was already hard again, his scorching heat rubbing against Lei Jin’s inner thigh as he hungrily sucked marks along his collarbone.  

“Ah…” The only sounds Lei Jin could make were broken moans.  

A wet, hot tongue licking at his ankle dragged Lei Jin’s hazy mind back to reality. Though the room was dark, the unmistakable silver-white fur told him it was Mingya.  

“Mingya… get out…” Lei Jin tried to shoo him away, but Xiya’s powerful thrusts made his words come out fragmented, robbing them of any authority.  

“Mingya won’t go.” Mingya pouted.  

Even without seeing, Lei Jin knew what Mingya was about to do and shouted, “Don’t you dare cry—”  

Torn between crying and holding back, Mingya stared at Lei Jin’s increasingly dazed expression as his eldest brother pounded into him, then lowered his head and took Lei Jin’s toes into his mouth.  

“Stop… nngh…”  

The room was soon filled with nothing but the sounds of passion and unrestrained moans.  

After two rounds, Lei Jin felt like his bones had been disassembled. Once cleaned up, Moya straightened the messy bed.  

“All of you, get out. I’m sleeping alone tonight.” Lei Jin wrapped himself tightly in the blanket, his voice hoarse as he unceremoniously kicked them out. If this kept up, he wasn’t sure he’d survive long enough to make it home.  

“Lei Jin, Mingya wants to sleep with you.” Mingya stood stubbornly by the bed, refusing to leave.  

Lei Jin sighed internally, rubbing his temples. He wanted to refuse, but with Mingya’s coming-of-age ceremony approaching, he relented. “Fine, but just sleeping. No moving around.”  

“Okay!” Mingya nodded vigorously.  

“Get in.” Lei Jin lifted a corner of the blanket.  

“Let’s go get some sleep too.” Xiya patted Moya’s shoulder, watching their little brother eagerly climb into bed and snuggle contentedly against Lei Jin. Though he and Moya had gotten their fill earlier while Mingya got nothing, it was hard to say who envied whom more.  

Mingya clamped his legs together, squirming uncomfortably.  

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” Half-dozing, Lei Jin felt the little guy shifting restlessly beside him.  

“N-nothing… Mingya’s going to sleep now.” But that place felt swollen and unbearably uncomfortable.  

“Sleep. You have to get up early tomorrow for the temple.” Lei Jin absently stroked the fur along Mingya’s back.  

The familiar motion made Mingya stare at Lei Jin in a daze. It had been so long since Lei Jin had held him like this—not since his eldest and second brothers had entered the picture.  

“Mingya’s mate…” Mingya whispered.  

“Mmm… sleep.” Lei Jin responded automatically, not really hearing what was said. His breathing soon steadied into sleep.  

“Mingya likes you.” Mingya lightly licked Lei Jin’s neck and murmured, “Like you the most. Your hugs are so warm.”  

The next morning, when Lei Jin woke, Mingya was already gone, but the blanket was tucked tightly around him, not a single draft slipping in. The gloomy sky outside made him think it was still early, but when he pushed open the window, he saw that though the rain was light, the wind was fierce, bending the grass on the distant plains. Heavy storm clouds hung oppressively low.  

Breakfast time had long passed, but a large bowl of steamed egg custard was still warm in the pot.  

“Is Berg awake?” Lei Jin stood to the side, eating his custard while Roger and Moya sorted through the supplies Moya had brought back. The pile in the main room was mountain-high. Though he knew werebeasts had impressive carrying capacity, seeing this much still made Lei Jin genuinely envious of their stamina.  

“He woke up this morning, fed the baby, and then they both went back to sleep.” Roger set aside a bundle of fur pelts and answered in passing.  

“Ah, I’ll take a look.” Lei Jin cracked open the door to Berg’s room.  

Berg happened to glance over at that moment, their eyes meeting. Berg was the first to look away—after his “heartfelt” deathbed speech to Lei Jin, he’d rather have actually died than face his ribbing now. He swore to himself that if Lei Jin dared mock him now, he’d deny everything to the death. Roger wouldn’t side with Lei Jin anyway.  

But Lei Jin just sauntered in with that infuriating smirk, not mentioning the incident at all.  

Berg, who’d braced for battle, deflated like a punctured balloon. With Lei Jin’s ambiguous attitude, he could neither swallow his pride nor spit it out, leaving him stewing in frustration.  

Perhaps sensing his agitation, the baby in his arms whimpered and opened his eyes. Spotting Lei Jin, he waved his tiny arms excitedly, babbling, “Ya ya ya!”  

Berg poked the baby’s soft cheek indignantly. “I’m your dad.”  

Remembering the baby’s ear-splitting cries from yesterday, Lei Jin kept his distance to spare his eardrums.  

But the merbaby refused to give up, its big navy-blue eyes round as it stared at Lei Jin, babbling incessantly.  

“Lei Jin, what did you do to my son?” Berg glared from the bed. After all his effort, his child was cozying up to an outsider.  

Lei Jin was just as baffled. Ignoring the jealous new father, he pondered—was this like imprinting? Had the baby fixated on him as his parent after seeing him first? Not that he could ask the tiny thing directly.  

Speaking of which, “baby” wasn’t a proper name. “Did you name the little… er, baby yet?”  

Berg hadn’t expected that to be Lei Jin’s opening line and blanked for a second before answering honestly, “No.” Then, as if possessed, he added, “Got any ideas?”  

Lei Jin took another bite of custard and said, “How about Bubbles?” The first time he’d seen the little one, he had been blowing bubbles inside his egg.  

“What kind of name is that?” Berg spluttered. Couldn’t Lei Jin pick something normal? Who named their kid Bubbles?  

“I think it’s cute. Bubbles for a nickname—you can pick the formal name.” Lei Jin waved a hand, decreeing the merbaby’s name on the spot. Seeing Berg’s protest, he raised a brow. “Didn’t a certain someone give this baby to me?”  

Blatant blackmail! Berg gritted his teeth and forced out, “Bubbles is… unique. Fine.”  

Satisfied with Berg’s compliance, Lei Jin nodded and turned serious. “Moya heard someone in the Tiger Tribe is offering generous rewards to find a golden merfolk. You know who that is, right?”  

Berg went cold all over. It had to be that man. His dad, knowing he couldn’t protect him, wouldn’t make such a public search. Only he would flaunt his power like this.  

“You’re safe here. We won’t throw you out.” Lei Jin didn’t know—or care—about Berg’s history with Lan Qi. Moya and the others felt the same. He was just passing the message.  

“Lei Jin…” Berg called as he turned to leave.  

“I’ve said what I needed to.” He had no interest in seeing a grown man’s teary gratitude—it wasn’t like a beautiful woman’s pitiful look, which might at least be appetizing.  

Lei Jin focused on his custard. A bit cold now, but the eggs were tender and not the least bit fishy.  

Berg patted the listless baby—no, Bubbles now—in his arms, kissing his little cheek. “Bubbles, your Daddy Lei Jin gave you this name. It’s awful, but… I’m starting to dislike him less. You like him too, don’t you? Want to be his son as well?”  

Bubbles grinned toothlessly.  

Berg studied the child. Though his features resembled his own, those navy-blue eyes were his through and through. He’d once joked about passing Bubbles off as Moya’s to spite Lei Jin, but the eye color and birth timeline would give it away.  

By the time Lei Jin stepped out, Roger and Moya had roughly sorted the supplies: three large sacks of rice, a big bag of fabric, two sacks of charcoal, and other miscellaneous items.  

“What’s in here?” Lei Jin set down his empty bowl and effortlessly hefted one of the bags.  

Moya took it from him, testing its weight. “Dried fruits from the mountains. Bought a few varieties—see if any suit your taste.”  

“Dried fruits?”  

“Fresh fruit’s scarce in winter. These are for you and Papa to snack on.”  

“Pfft, you treating me like a kid?” Stocking up on treats for him?  

“Just take a look.” If only snacks could make you stay. But I doubt anything we do will keep you.

Lei Jin opened the large outer bag to find several smaller ones inside, filled with pine nuts, walnuts, chestnuts, sunflower seeds, and assorted dried fruits.  

“Wait, what did you trade for these?”  

“Some pelts and wheat from home. The rest we bought.”  

“Bought? I’ve never seen money here.” Not once in all this time.  

Moya didn’t understand what Lei Jin meant by “money.”  

Roger fished out a fingernail-sized green gem and placed it in Lei Jin’s palm. “Here, gems and precious metals are used for trade. But within tribes, bartering is more common.”  

Another bag held two camel-colored fur scarves for Roger and Lei Jin—soft, smooth, and finely textured. Moya explained they were made from cloud rats, creatures living in the northern cold regions, their dense fur excellent against wind.  

“Why is there cotton here? And small pelts? Wow, this fabric’s soft.” Lei Jin held up a piece just the right size for swaddling a baby. “Perfect for Bubbles.”  

“Bubbles?” Roger echoed.  

“The merbaby. I named him Bubbles.”  

Of course you did, Roger thought. Only you’d pick something that weird.

“But this is too much.” Lei Jin counted seven or eight pelts. Given their quality, they couldn’t have been cheap, yet Moya hadn’t hesitated.  

Moya brought over two cups of hot water, handing one to Roger and the other to Lei Jin. “Stop fussing. Your injury just healed—don’t overexert yourself.”  

“This little bit? How is it exhausting?” Lei Jin rolled his eyes.  

Moya tucked a stray lock of hair behind Lei Jin’s ear and smiled. “It’s almost done. You and Father relax. After lunch, I’ll take you to get some winter clothes made. Elder Brother’s are too big on you.”  

Lei Jin glanced down at his oversized tunic—the hem too long, the sleeves drooping, the whole thing swallowing him whole like a child playing dress-up. All these years of growth, wasted. Why do werebeasts have to be so damn tall? It was downright demoralizing.  

After lunch, the rain continued. Moya and Lei Jin donned straw cloaks and took the pelts to Qi Luo’s house. They’d considered having Roger’s clothes made too, but Roger declined, saying he still had plenty from previous years. Moya left two pelts for him anyway.  

Qi Luo’s mother, Su Rui, was one of the best tailors in the Leopard Tribe. Every early autumn, people flocked to him with game in exchange for his skills.  

With the rain making it inconvenient to bring fresh prey, and since the two families were close, Moya suggested they could bring the gifts when picking up the clothes later. 

After Qi Luo’s bonding ceremony, Su Rui had moved into the new house as well. When they arrived, Qi Luo was nowhere to be seen, but Jia He was sitting under the eaves, skinning a deer.  

Seeing them enter, Jia He set down his knife and stood up. His demeanor wasn’t warm, but it couldn’t be called cold either. “Looking for Papa? He’s in the east room sewing. I’ll take you there.”

Moya nodded. “Thank you, Jia He.”  

Jia He paused, glancing at them before finally saying, “You don’t need to be so polite.” Qi Luo was close with Xiya’s family, and Jia He didn’t want to make things awkward for him. Besides, he didn’t truly dislike them—after all, Jia Nuo’s one-sided feelings for Xiya had never been a formal arrangement.  

Moya gave a faint smile, silently acknowledging his words.  

Lei Jin, however, noticed Jia He’s slightly stiff gait. Wait… was it really what he thought? This tall, cold-faced Jia He didn’t seem like the type to be the bottom in the relationship.  

Since Jia He had always disliked him, Lei Jin decided to guve him a good probing.  

Moya took one look at the mischievous glint in Lei Jin’s eyes and knew trouble was coming. Sure enough, in the next second, Lei Jin strode forward and gave Jia He’s waist a hearty slap, feigning camaraderie. “Jia He, I never got to congratulate you on your bonding ceremony!”

Jia He, caught off guard, stumbled and thudded onto the ground, momentarily stunned.  

No way. Who knew Qi Luo was so… skilled? Lei Jin silently admired his work before extending a hand with exaggerated concern. “Jia He, what happened? Here, let me help you up.”  

Unaware of Lei Jin’s mischief, Jia He assumed it was an accident. Besides, a werebeast making a fuss over a female’s actions would be laughable, so he took Lei Jin’s hand and stood.  

Moya watched everything unfold, silently offering Jia He his sympathy. Who knows what he did to offend Lei Jin? He’s in for it now—Lei Jin never lets grudges go.

They had brought plenty of fabric—some from Moya’s recent trip, plus the cotton cloth from the little chubby wolf’s family. Su Rui said it was enough for three outfits, with leftover scraps for hats, gloves, and shoes.  

Su Rui measured Lei Jin with a string, marking the wall with chalk symbols only he understood.  

“Uncle Su Rui, how soon can it be ready? If possible, please make one set for him to wear first,” Moya said, adjusting Lei Jin’s disheveled clothes from the measuring.  

“I can do it myself,” Lei Jin swatted his hand away.  

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Noticing Lei Jin’s ill-fitting clothes, Su Rui replied, “It’ll take four or five days, but I’ll prioritize Lei Jin’s. I’ll finish one set by tomorrow and have Qi Luo deliver it.”

While Lei Jin stepped out to put on his raincoat, Moya circled back. With a faint smile, he added, “Uncle Su Rui, make Lei Jin’s clothes a bit looser—especially around the waist and stomach.” 

Su Rui nodded reflexively. By the time the implication sank in, Moya was already gone.  

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