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.  

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

“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.  

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

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. 

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

“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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Upon hearing this, Moya had no choice but to get up from Lei Jin and straighten his clothes. His face had returned to his usual calm and indifferent expression, but the fire still burning in his eyes indicated that this matter would not end so easily.

Lei Jin sat up from the bed. Moya had just pressed him down and caressed him all over. His limbs were still a little weak for a moment, so he didn’t have the mind to take care of the tunic that was gaping wide open. Mingya rushed over crying, and his hot tears slid down Lei Jin’s increasingly round belly to his belt.

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“What’s wrong? What did you shout just now?” Lei Jin pinched Mingya’s ear as the other laid in his arms. It was really difficult to hear Mingya’s words in that situation just now.

“Mingya didn’t do it on purpose. Mingya just wanted to take a look at the baby, and poked it gently, just once.” But who would have thought it to break just like that.

Although he didn’t know the specific situation, he estimated that it was not very serious, because Roger would not let Mingya go in to see the merbaby by himself. Lei Jin patted Mingya’s head and said, “Get up first, we’ll go over and take a look.”

Mingya wiped his tears and was about to get up when he felt Lei Jin’s stomach move slightly under his head. He looked at him in confusion and said, “Lei Jin, your stomach kicked Mingya just now.”

Lei Jin didn’t take it seriously, just thinking it was a child’s talk. He tied his tunic closed and teased him, “Did my stomach grow legs that it can actually kick you?”

Mingya was not sure now. Just when he was about to press close again to see, Lei Jin grabbed the scruff of his neck and moved him away.

“Second Brother, Mingya is telling the truth.” Mingya began to look for supporters.

Moya just smiled, but he was really annoyed at himself in his heart. It was likely that he had wasted time on the road and missed a lot of things. He made up his mind that he must go out early and come back early next time.

Before Lei Jin went out, he put on Xiya’s fur coat and smiled at Moya, “Let’s go and see my son.”

Moya pursed his lips and asked, “Where did your son come from?”

“Can’t he have been born just recently?”

Moya glanced at Lei Jin’s belly calmly and thought, isn’t our son still well in your belly? So where did this son come from?

“It’s Berg’s son, Second Brother.” Mingya reminded.

Moya almost forgot that there was another pregnant man at home. He just didn’t know how Berg’s baby suddenly became Lei Jin’s son.

It had indeed just rained outside, but it shouldn’t be heavy. There was only a thin layer of wetness on the ground, but the moisture in the air was still quite cool. When the three of them entered the room, Roger was already waiting by the bathtub.

“Is everything okay? Roger?” Lei Jin asked.

Roger turned around and waved, signaling them to come over quickly.

They took a few quick steps and saw that the egg in the bathtub had indeed opened a small hole. The translucent shell was turned outward and a sticky liquid was slowly flowing out. The little golden merbaby with his eyes closed was struggling hard while thrashing his tail, as if eager to break free from the eggshell.

Lei Jin saw that he was struggling and couldn’t get out, so he wanted to reach out to help him. But just as his fingers touched the shell, he was stopped by Roger, who said, “No, let him get out by himself. Helping him would only hurt him.”

“What a troublesome little thing.” Lei Jin muttered. Although he didn’t know the reasoning behind this, he couldn’t hurt the baby, so he withdrew his hand immediately. At this moment, the little merbaby struggled one last time and finally broke free from the eggshell. His closed eyes twitched twice and opened a little bit. The dark blue eyes were still misty, but this did not prevent him from taking Lei Jin’s finger into his mouth with unerring accuracy.

“Hey, hey…” Lei Jin was a little at a loss. The little merbaby had no teeth in his mouth, and his tooth sockets were soft. He could only suck with all his might. Lei Jin didn’t dare to move and looked at Roger for help. The merbaby was so small that it felt like he would shatter with just a touch.

Seeing Lei Jin being spectacularly trapped by a newborn merbaby, Roger thought the sight was pretty funny. He sat there leisurely with his legs crossed, not planning on helping immediately.

Moya smiled and reached out to touch the baby’s belly. The little merbaby turned over comfortably. Lei Jin took the opportunity to gently pull out his fingers, but as soon as his fingers left, the little merbaby cried out and the sound was so loud that even the neighbors could hear it.

Lei Jin took a step back in fright, finding it incredible that such a small body could make such a loud sound, but this also proved that the baby was healthy enough.

“Hey, stop crying.”

How could the little baby understand what Lei Jin said? His small mouth just kept opening and closing and crying even harder.

“Why is it so noisy? Can’t I even sleep?” Berg on the bed pulled the blanket over his head and shouted in dissatisfaction. He was so sleepy.

“Berg, get up quickly and check on your son.” Lei Jin finally found the person responsible. He did not let him escape and pulled the blanket off his head.

“What son?” Berg asked irritably, his mind still not clear.

“The son you gave birth to.” He couldn’t believe this guy forgot just after a day.

As soon as Berg moved, he felt a tearing pain, which woke him up immediately. He sat up with some difficulty and asked anxiously, “Yes, my child, where is he?” He could only hear crying but couldn’t see the baby.

“Don’t come down since you just gave birth. I’ll carry the baby to you.” Seeing Berg eagerly trying to get out of bed, Roger quickly spoke out to stop him.

The little merbaby struggled in Berg’s arms, and cried at the top of his lungs at Lei Jin.

Berg didn’t know the whole story, and he was full of questions when he saw the baby’s reaction.

“He must be hungry. What do merbabies eat?” Roger spoke up at the right time.

Berg looked up, bewildered. In fact, he didn’t know. All the babies in the tribe were fed by female merfolk.

Roger instantly understood as soon as he saw his expression. Well, this was another father who knew nothing.

Lei Jin crossed his arms in front of his chest, leaned against the wall, and swept his gaze up and down over Berg’s chest. It was still flat, and it didn’t look like it could secrete milk. He really couldn’t guess what the child would eat. Others didn’t know what Lei Jin was thinking, because there was no such thing as breastfeeding in werebeast tribes, but it was difficult for Roger to pretend not to know.

“There are some milkfruits here. Feed some to the baby and see if he eats them.” Roger’s face darkened slightly. He was secretly glad that Lei Jin had never looked at him like that. Otherwise, it would be really difficult to remain calm in front of Lei Jin.

He reached out towards the windowsill and took a bowl with two fist-sized milky white fruits in it. They looked ripe and exuded an enticing flavor. He continued, “This is the milkfruit used in all werebeast tribes. It shouldn’t be bad. I just don’t know if merbabies will eat it.”

“It’s worth a try.” Berg looked at the crying babe in his arms worriedly, but there was no better solution.

Roger squeezed out half a bowl of thick white juice from the two milkfruits. Fortunately, the little merbaby was not very picky about food and ate it happily, one spoonful at a time. After eating, he blew bubbles from his little mouth, found a comfortable position in Berg’s arms, tilted his head and soon fell asleep.

“Why did it take so long this time?” After being tormented by Berg’s son, it was time for dinner. It was not until they went to bed that the two had a chance to have a good talk. Lei Jin remembered that the last time Xiya went away it took about half a month, but this time Moya took twice as long.

“I went to the Avian Tribe, and when I came back I happened to encounter the annual fair held in the Tiger Tribe, so I went to buy some things.” As Moya spoke, he gently rubbed Lei Jin’s waist and abdomen with his right hand.

“Oh, the Tiger Tribe,” Lei Jin stretched out his belly comfortably and moved closer to Moya.

“By the way, do you know someone named Jing Ping?”

“Jing Ping? How do you know him?” Moya shouldn’t have met Jing Ping before.

“I don’t know him. He was just selling rice at the market. I thought you might like this, so I went over to ask about the price. When he saw that I was from the Leopard Tribe, he asked if I knew you.”

“Oh, are they doing okay?” Once he left, he would probably never see that family again in this lifetime.

“They look to be doing well. His papa kept asking if your arms are healed.”

“The whole family was very kind to me.”

Moya noticed that his tone was a little melancholy, so he said, “When the snow on the grasslands melts next spring, our Leopard Tribe will also have a big fair. Jing Ping and his family said they would come to see you then.”

But this did not ease Lei Jin’s mood. After all, he should have left by then, but he didn’t want to tell Moya now. It was unknown when the rain outside started falling again, but now it was hitting the window with loud pitter-patter sounds.

While Lei Jin was lost in thought, Moya’s hand had already moved along his lower back and into his pants. A finger gently began to circle his entrance. Hot breaths sprayed on the base of Lei Jin’s neck, and he whispered, “It’s been more than a month. Can you let me do it once?” He had asked Elder Brother and knew that doing it was allowed now.

“Just once.” Lei Jin couldn’t refuse. The two of them hadn’t been intimate for a long time. He also wanted it a little, but the weather was too cold and he really didn’t want to move.

“En.” Moya’s eyes were filled with happiness. He quickly took off their clothes under the blanket. Their hot skin stuck together without any hindrance. Lei Jin felt so good that his toes curled up.

“Open a little more.” Lei Jin lay on the bed with his legs spread. Moya knelt between his legs, twitching two fingers into that secret area.

Lei Jin wanted to curse, annoyed at all the demands. Do you want me to open the door myself and invite you in? Of course, he couldn’t say this, so he could only glare at Moya fiercely, indicating that if he wanted to do it, he should do it, and if not, he should go to sleep.

In the darkness, he heard Moya’s chuckle, and warm lips covered his own. Lei Jin felt one of his legs being lifted up, and his entrance was being completely filled up inch by inch. Before the sore feeling even passed, Moya’s fierce thrusting had already begun. The pleasure that rapidly surged from the place where the two were connected made Lei Jin only able to let out broken gasps.

“My stomach hurts…” In between Moya’s thrusting, Lei Jin took a breath. His stomach felt a little painful from being squeezed in between the two of them.

“Where does it hurt?” Moya gritted his teeth and had to stop when he heard this.

“Change position.” Lei Jin moved.

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Moya sucked in a breath. He was still in that warm and tight place. Lei Jin’s movement almost made him lose control immediately, but he didn’t hold it for long. Once he was sure that everything was fine, Moya lifted Lei Jin up by his hips while he was still inside him and entered again between his open legs.

Lei Jin hugged Moya’s neck and moved his body up and down in coordination.

Suddenly, a pair of hands caressed his chest, causing Lei Jin to gasp in surprise. Then he heard Xiya’s low and husky voice behind his ear.

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“Berg…” Having witnessed life and death countless times over the years, Lei Jin had thought he was numb to it all. He didn’t even care much about his own life, let alone others’. As a mobster, others might see him surrounded by subordinates, living a glamorous life, but who knew when a bullet might come his way? It was nothing unusual—his godfather had died just like that. So from the moment he took over, he had envisioned the end of his own life. It wasn’t that he had seen through life and death—he wasn’t that enlightened—but compared to others, he was more accepting.  

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Yet now, watching Berg stop breathing right before his eyes, he found himself at a loss for how to react.  

“Berg…” He nudged Berg’s head again.  

Berg’s head lolled to the side, his eyes still closed.  

Lei Jin’s hands trembled slightly, unsure whether he should check Berg’s breath for final confirmation.  

“Lei Jin!” Roger called out sharply, snapping him out of his daze.  

“Huh?” Lei Jin finally heard him and reflexively looked up.  

Roger was holding the egg in his arms and sighed helplessly. “Cover him with the blanket beside you. He just gave birth—he can’t catch a cold. I’ve called you several times, and you didn’t hear.”  

Lei Jin looked down and carefully observed Berg. Though his breathing was weak, it had steadied. Only the cold sweat under Lei Jin’s palm remained as evidence of his earlier panic. Lei Jin wanted to bang his head against the wall. What kind of misunderstanding was this? He roughly pulled the blanket over and tucked Berg in, resisting the urge to slap him. Giving birth was one thing, but why stage this deathbed scene? And worst of all, he had played along like an idiot, nearly turning it into some melodramatic farewell.  

Damn it. My twenty-eight years of suave, composed image—completely shattered tonight!

“Since you just gave birth, I’ll let you off this time,” Lei Jin muttered as he adjusted the blanket, consoling himself that at least only Roger and Healer Qing Qiao had witnessed his moment of weakness. Hopefully, they’d been too busy with the delivery to notice.  

But when he looked up, he met Roger’s teasing gaze.  

Lei Jin’s scalp prickled, but he forced a nonchalant smile. “Let me see the egg Berg laid.”  

Roger handed it over gently, chuckling. “Hold your newly adopted son carefully.”  

Lei Jin nearly retorted, who the hell wants to be a dad to an egg? But then he remembered he had promised Berg. So… did that mean he really had an egg for a son now?  

“Where do we put this?” The egg felt too soft, and Lei Jin didn’t dare grip it tightly. The semi-transparent shell was thin, with liquid sloshing inside. The tiny golden merbaby, pink where there were no scales, slept soundly, blowing little bubbles from their mouth.  

“If we put it under Berg, will it get crushed?” Lei Jin pondered seriously. If this was an egg, didn’t it need to be incubated? Since the father wasn’t here, that duty fell to Berg.  

The vein on Roger’s temple twitched. “I don’t think Berg needs to incubate it. The baby’s already fully formed—it just needs to break out of the shell on its own.”  

Healer Qing Qiao, who had just finished washing his hands in the prepared basin, chimed in, “I agree with Roger. But I’m not sure how to raise it. Berg’s asleep, so we can’t ask.”  

Outside, Xiya knocked on the door. “Father, Lei Jin, how’s it going in there?”  

“Come in. Berg’s already given birth,” Roger replied.  

Xiya and the others entered, immediately crowding around the egg in Lei Jin’s arms, fascinated. But none of them knew how to care for it.  

Finally, Roger suggested that since merfolk lived in water, they should keep it in water for now and wait for Berg to wake up.  

They brought over the bathtub, filled it with warm water, and added a handful of salt. Lei Jin carefully placed the egg inside, watching as it bobbed up and down contentedly. Only then did everyone relax.  

Dawn had broken. After the long night, Roger asked An Sen to escort Healer Qing Qiao home, along with a freshly butchered sheep as thanks. Though tribal healers didn’t charge, it was only right to show gratitude for being roused in the middle of the night. Qing Qiao, familiar with the family, didn’t refuse. After giving a few more postpartum care instructions, he left with An Sen.  

Xiya went to cook breakfast before Mingya woke up. An Luo tidied the courtyard, which had been left in disarray during the chaos.  

Only Roger and Lei Jin remained in the room—Berg didn’t count, as he was still dead asleep.  

Roger noticed Lei Jin staring intently at the egg. “The baby’s cute, isn’t it?”  

Lei Jin swirled the egg gently in the water and nodded. “Yeah. Berg’s belly was so huge—how is the baby this small?” He held up his hand for comparison. “My palm’s bigger than its head.”  

Roger walked over. “It’s actually not that small. Any bigger, and Berg would’ve suffered even more.”  

“True,” Lei Jin agreed, recalling Berg’s agonized state last night.  

After a pause, Lei Jin added, “But it seems Berg has no intention of telling the father.” Even at death’s door, Berg hadn’t mentioned him. If not for his pain-induced cursing, they wouldn’t even know the man’s name.  

“The child you birth is yours alone. Only you can protect them, and they can only rely on you,” Roger said meaningfully.  

“That’s a thing?” Lei Jin missed the deeper implication, only thinking of Moya. Roger clearly adored Moya—did that mean no matter who the father was, the child was still Roger’s?  

“Of course it is,” Roger countered, raising an eyebrow.  

Lei Jin nodded, deciding not to press further. Poking at Roger’s sore spots never ended well.  

(Little did Roger know he’d one day regret drilling this mindset into Lei Jin.)  

“By the way, why did you tell me to agree to Berg’s request earlier?” Lei Jin had genuinely thought Berg was dying.  

“Just to ease his mind. The more anxious he was, the harder the birth would be,” Roger explained, sitting by the tub.  

“How’s your hand?” Lei Jin had initially mistaken the blood for Berg’s, but now he saw the scratches on Roger’s hands—likely from Berg’s claws.  

“It’s fine. I’ll apply some medicine later.” After weathering so many storms, these minor injuries meant nothing.  

“Good.” Lei Jin’s gaze drifted to the old, neatly healed scars on Roger’s left wrist—clearly from a blade, and deep enough to have been fatal.  

Roger noticed his stare and subtly adjusted his sleeve. “You’ve been up all night. Eat breakfast and then get some more sleep.”  

Not wanting to pry, Lei Jin changed the subject. “When do you think this little one will open its eyes?”  

“Hard to say. Xiya and the others took two or three days. I’ve no idea about merbabies.” Roger no longer avoided mentioning that he’d birthed Xiya and the others.  

“Roger… was it that painful for you too?” Last night had shaken Lei Jin. Though he’d heard childbirth was grueling, seeing Berg’s torment firsthand made him grateful he’d never have to endure it.  

“By Mingya’s time, it was much easier.” Xiya, as the firstborn, had been difficult. But Moya’s birth had been the hardest. Mingya had been the most obedient, arriving without trouble.  

Roger spoke casually, but Lei Jin squirmed uncomfortably. With Berg and other local females, he could rationalize that they were meant to bear children. But Roger was from his world—how could he have given birth?  

Roger understood Lei Jin’s struggle. His own acceptance hadn’t come overnight—how could he expect Lei Jin to adjust immediately? He just hoped Lei Jin wouldn’t harm the child growing inside him out of denial. Otherwise, one day, he might regret it too late.  

After breakfast, Lei Jin and Roger checked on the egg again. The golden merbaby still slept, and Berg showed no signs of waking, so they each returned to their rooms to rest.  

The tribe’s crops were nearly ready for harvest, so the werebeasts had gone to help. Xiya had wanted to stay with Lei Jin, but Lei Jin insisted he was fine—his fever had subsided—so Xiya left somewhat reassured.  

Exhausted, Lei Jin slept deeply. When he woke, it seemed to have rained—the air carried the scent of plants and damp earth. Though awake, he kept his eyes closed, cozy under the warm blanket.  

“Awake?” A moist kiss brushed his eyelids, accompanied by a soft chuckle.  

Lei Jin opened his eyes to find Moya sitting by the bed, tired but smiling gently.  

“Did you miss me?” Moya bent down, seeking a kiss.  

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His slightly long hair tickled Lei Jin’s face. Lei Jin reached up to touch his head, his heart melting despite himself. After a brief internal struggle, he gave a tiny nod.  

The kiss that followed was far more intense, sending shivers down Lei Jin’s spine.  

“Lei Jin! Mingya did something bad! I poked a hole in the egg—” Mingya burst in crying, interrupting the intimate moment.

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Lei Jin’s head still felt a little heavy, but it didn’t stop him from springing upright from the bed like a startled fish. Xiya broke out in cold sweat watching him and quickly followed him off the bed, grabbing his arm. “The tribe is very safe—nothing bad will happen. It’s probably just that the baby’s coming. Dad and the others must already be there. Get dressed first, and we’ll go together.”

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“The baby’s coming?” Lei Jin had thought from Berg’s scream that the man from the sea had come after him.

“Probably. It’s about time.” Xiya brought over their clothes from the bedside table.

Mingya was awake too. The three of them headed out quickly. It was just past midnight. The night outside was thick and silent, making Berg’s increasingly louder moans all the more distinct.

After spending time together, Lei Jin had learned a bit about Berg. He didn’t have many strengths and had plenty of flaws, but no one could deny his resilience. Alone in a strange place and carrying a child, he complained sometimes, but never to an unbearable extent. The fact that he was crying out like this now meant the pain had reached an extreme.

Before they could even enter the room, Roger’s voice came from inside. “Xiya, don’t come in. Go to the kitchen and help your dad boil water.”

Xiya patted Lei Jin’s shoulder, nodded, and strode away.

Since he wasn’t stopped, Lei Jin assumed it was fine and entered with Mingya. The room was dim, lit only by a weak pine-resin lamp on the table.

Roger was pressing down hard on Berg’s arms, but since Berg was a male merfolk, he was immensely strong. Roger couldn’t hold him down. Lei Jin quickly grabbed a long cloth from the side and helped Roger tie Berg’s arms.

Only then did Roger sigh with relief and slump onto the edge of the bed, wiping sweat from his brow. “Berg, hang in there. An Sen’s gone to get Healer Qing Qiao.”

Berg wanted to nod, but the overwhelming pain in his belly had him writhing, moaning nonstop. “It hurts, it hurts so bad… ahhh it hurts!” His long fish tail had trashed everything within reach. He was only grateful he hadn’t lost full control or attacked someone—otherwise, not even Lei Jin and Roger together could have restrained him.

Lei Jin now noticed that Berg’s clothes were completely undone, and several bloody scratches from his own nails marked his swollen belly. The bulges beneath the skin suggested the baby was desperate to come out. Lei Jin had never been so aware that this really was a man giving birth.

“Lan Qi, you bastard… ugh… it hurts…”

“Berg… don’t panic…” Lei Jin stammered, suddenly nervous himself seeing Berg like this.

“Lei Jin, go get some hot water,” Roger instructed, massaging Berg’s belly while giving directions.

“Oh.” Lei Jin found a water jug on the table, tested the temperature—it was still warm—then poured a cup and helped Berg drink most of it.

Berg finally calmed down a little. Lei Jin took off his sweat-soaked clothes and covered him with a blanket.

But soon after, the pain returned, making Berg thrash again.

“Ugh… I’m going to kill you, Lan Qi…!”

Lei Jin wiped his sweat, realizing that Lan Qi must be the name of that man.

Roger reached under the blanket to check Berg’s condition. What he felt was slick. He turned to Mingya. “Go meet your dad and Healer Qing Qiao. Tell them Berg is about to give birth—hurry.”

Mingya dashed out without hesitation.

Though Berg was male, he was about the same age as Xiya and the others, so Roger had no qualms. He inserted his fingers to check—Berg’s water had broken, but he was only dilated about four or five fingers wide. Nowhere near enough. Roger wasn’t sure what exactly Berg would be delivering, but judging by the size of that belly, the baby wouldn’t be small.

The invasive sensation made Berg stiffen, but the relentless waves of pain left him no time to care.

“Push, Berg, the baby’s almost out.”

“It hurts… I can’t do this… it hurts so bad…” Berg screamed hoarsely, his voice fading.

“Berg, don’t sleep—wake up!” Roger slapped his face. If he passed out now, things would be bad.

“Dad… it hurts…”

“Moya… help me…”

“Lan Qi, I’m sorry… please…”

Berg started rambling deliriously.

Roger and Lei Jin exchanged glances, both pained, but this was not the time for mercy.

Lei Jin pinched his philtrum while Roger increased pressure on his belly. Berg woke up again from the pain.

“Why aren’t they here yet? If this keeps up, Berg won’t have the strength to deliver,” Roger muttered. Though it hadn’t been long, it felt like ages.

Lei Jin wiped his sweat. “If I’d known, I would’ve let him eat two more meatballs tonight—for strength.”

“You can make them again next time.” Berg seemed to regain some clarity.

“You’re finally awake. You scared me half to death.” Lei Jin let out a long breath of relief.

“Lei Jin.” Berg’s gaze was sharp and lucid.

“What is it? Tell me after you give birth. Save your strength.” Lei Jin whispered, sensing something was wrong.

“If something happens to me, promise me you’ll take care of the child.” Berg’s bound hands gripped Lei Jin’s wrists tightly.

Lei Jin froze, then shook his head firmly. “Berg, you know I’m leaving eventually. I won’t raise your child. You gave birth—so you raise it.”

Berg wanted to say more, but at that moment, Mingya returned with Healer Qing Qiao.

From there, Lei Jin couldn’t help much.

“Why are you standing outside? It’s so cold.” Xiya came out after bringing in water and found Lei Jin silently waiting by the door.

“I just realized… maybe I’m actually lucky.” Lei Jin had thought this more than once. Even in a strange world, he wasn’t alone.

“Of course you are. You even met me. You have no idea how popular I am.” Xiya pouted and wrapped an arm around Lei Jin’s shoulder, pulling him close.

Lei Jin chuckled and punched his chest. “I used to think I was thick-skinned. Then I met you.”

“Wanna go back and sleep? I heard Healer Qing Qiao say first births take a long time.” Hopefully Lei Jin wouldn’t have to suffer like this one day.

Lei Jin sniffled—it was chilly—but said, “Forget it. I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I’ll wait here.” Then he remembered something. “Let Mingya go back to sleep. He has to be at the temple early tomorrow.” He didn’t know exactly what the boy studied there, but if it was for the coming-of-age ceremony, it must be important.

Mingya was sent back to bed by Xiya. Lei Jin and the others waited in the outer room. Only Roger and Healer Qing Qiao remained inside. Berg’s moans ebbed and surged. Lei Jin managed to hold out for a while, but eventually fell asleep in Xiya’s arms. He seemed to dream of a nightmare and woke up with a start.

“What did you dream? You’re sweating.” Xiya wiped his forehead.

“Can’t remember. How long was I asleep?” Lei Jin glanced at the window—dawn was breaking.

“Not long.” Xiya moved his numb arm.

“Did Berg give birth?” It was too quiet.

“Not yet. He’s probably exhausted.” Xiya had listened most of the night and guessed the pattern.

“I’ll check on him.” Lei Jin was uneasy.

An Luo happened to come back with hot water at this time, so Lei Jin took it.

Just as he reached the door, Roger rushed out and collided with him, spilling the basin. Lei Jin instinctively looked down—Roger’s clothes and hands were stained with blood.

“Berg wants to see you.”

Lei Jin took a step back, then forced himself forward and followed Roger in.

“Berg?” Lei Jin sat at the bedside and called.

Berg opened his bloodshot eyes and managed a tired smile. “This time, even if you refuse, you have to agree. I will leave the child with you guys. After I’m gone, cremate me and scatter my ashes at sea. I want to go home. My dad must be worried.”

Lei Jin was about to refuse again, but Berg shook his head faintly. “I can’t hold on anymore, Lei Jin. I tried. I haven’t even seen my child… it hurts…”

“Push, Berg, it’s almost out!” Healer Qing Qiao was sweating too. He’d never delivered a merfolk baby before, and he still couldn’t see the head.

“Lei Jin, Lei Jin, please… promise me…” Berg murmured.

Roger gestured silently. Lei Jin turned away and nodded faintly.

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

“That’s good…” But the searing pain cut off Berg’s smile before it formed. Not long after, that heavy burden finally slipped from his body.

“It’s out!” Healer Qing Qiao caught it—an egg? A soft, translucent shell faintly showed a curled-up merbaby inside, with golden hair and a fishtail.

“Berg, look! Your child!” Lei Jin nudged him.

But Berg was already cold.

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Seeing this, Lei Jin couldn’t help but want to smile. But when he thought about how this soft little creature would one day silently vanish into a place unknown to him, his heart grew heavy. Even though once he left, he wouldn’t see him again either, at least he’d know that the boy would live healthily under the love and care of his parents and siblings. That was enough. Maybe it was a little sentimental, but it was truly how Lei Jin felt at that moment.

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

After seeing Mingya, Lei Jin wasn’t in the mood to go straight home, so he took a walk near the temple with Xiya. It had already been more than half a year since he arrived in this world, and yet, he’d never really taken a good look at the most prominent building in the tribe. The entire temple was built from massive strips of bluish stone, somewhat resembling a pyramid. Its base was wide and narrowed as it ascended, but instead of ending in a point, it had a flat square platform at the top. The structure had four sides, each with flights of stairs reaching upward.

“Can we go up there and take a look?” Lei Jin asked. Religious buildings like temples usually had all sorts of taboos. Though he didn’t believe in such things, he didn’t want to risk offending anyone either.

“Of course. Apart from the inner sanctum, which isn’t easily accessible, there aren’t many restrictions elsewhere,” Xiya replied. But with so many steps—around a hundred—could Lei Jin’s current body handle the climb?

“Let’s go up and see.” He remembered that before they went to the jungle, Roger had vaguely mentioned that he should check out the temple. Lei Jin still didn’t quite understand what Roger had meant, but he trusted Roger had his reasons. Taking the opportunity today, he might as well go up and see for himself.

The two chose the southern stairs and began to climb. The slope was steep, and the steps were narrow—when Lei Jin stepped on one, a third of his foot was left hanging. Going up wasn’t too bad; people tend to lean forward instinctively, but coming down would be trickier. The climb was a bit difficult for Lei Jin, but manageable. Xiya didn’t dare speak, fearing it would distract him. Lei Jin, a bit bored, counted the steps as he climbed. When they reached the top platform, they’d gone up exactly 91 steps. On that platform, there was one more step leading up to a circular object resembling a millstone, with a slender needle running vertically through the center. Lei Jin had seen something like it before at a science institute building, but had no idea what it was or what it was used for.

“What’s this?” he asked. He hadn’t gone to school much and didn’t see the point in hiding it. Luckily, in his line of work, education wasn’t a requirement.

Xiya glanced at him and said, “It’s a sundial. It’s used to tell time. Before we had sundials and hourglasses, people in the tribe told time by watching the sun and stars.” Seeing Lei Jin circling the sundial with interest, he added, “This was made by papa. He said people from your world would all know what it is.”

“Well, I don’t. How do you read it?” Lei Jin said nonchalantly. The face of the sundial had many markings—twelve large segments and many small ones he couldn’t be bothered to count.

“Look at the shadow of the pointer.” Xiya pointed and carefully explained.

“It’s almost two o’clock?” Lei Jin guessed, seeing the shadow close to the seventh mark. Honestly, once it was explained, it wasn’t hard to understand—it was kind of like a clock, except instead of a hand, it used the shadow of the needle.

On a small platform below the sundial, there were some rough carvings, similar to the ones on the stone pillars behind the temple. A ring of light was surrounded by nine embedded stones—or rather, eight, since one of them, the third, had been dug out, leaving only a small hollow. Between the third and fourth stones, there was a strange symbol Lei Jin couldn’t read and didn’t feel like puzzling over.

“When we were in the Tiger Tribe, where’s that black stone I gave you?” Lei Jin stared at the hollow with a thoughtful expression and looked up to ask Xiya.

“Here,” Xiya replied, taking it off his neck. It was the only thing Lei Jin had ever given him, so he’d always kept it close.

Lei Jin took the stone and tried pressing it into the hollow. It was about the right size, but wouldn’t go in. Maybe he was mistaken? He fell into a moment of silent thought.

Xiya, seeing Lei Jin’s actions, grew inexplicably uneasy and broke the silence. “There’s nothing much to see up here. The wind’s strong—let’s go back down.”

“Alright.” Lei Jin stood up.

The temple was high and offered a wide view. The orderly houses and broad streets were spread out below. The tribe was nestled in dense forests, with the Leopard Tribe’s settlement cloaked in the golden hues of early autumn.

They went up the south side and came down the east. Lei Jin noted that it was still 91 steps. Counting all four sides plus the top platform, it made 365 in total—the number of days in a year. Was that just a coincidence?

After descending the temple, Lei Jin sneezed several times. Xiya figured he’d caught a chill from the wind and urged him to go lie down.

But Lei Jin didn’t think much of it. At most, it was a little cold—nothing worth fussing over.

When they got home, Roger and the others had returned. An Luo was doing laundry, and the clotheslines in the yard were already full. An Sen was in the kitchen chopping something.

“Where have you been?” Roger asked, holding a stick he’d just been using to beat the blankets hanging over the courtyard wall. Seeing them come in, he paused.

When Xiya said they’d gone to the top of the temple, Roger glanced at Lei Jin, his eyes flickering subtly, but he didn’t pursue the topic further.

“A few days ago, you said you wanted meatballs, didn’t you? An Sen is grinding the meat right now. You’ll have them tonight. Is there anything else you want to eat?”

Lei Jin had been craving all sorts of things lately—wanting this and that, like he hadn’t eaten in eight lifetimes. He was always hungry, too. He felt a bit embarrassed. The other day, he’d craved stewed meatballs so badly he’d mentioned it offhand, and Roger had actually remembered.

“That’s good enough. I’ll make them myself.” The others definitely wouldn’t know how to cook them, but at least he wouldn’t starve with his own skills.

“You should lie down and rest. Just tell me how to make it, and I’ll do it,” Xiya said, still concerned about the chill he’d caught.

“You’ll ruin it since it’s your first time. I’ll do it.” Lei Jin rolled up his sleeves.

Just then, An Sen said the meat was ready.

Before heading into the kitchen, Lei Jin pulled a few scallions from the garden. Roger followed to help.

“It’s already September. The weather’s cooling. Dress warmer when you go out. When Moya comes back, he’ll bring some good fabric. You can make a couple of thicker outfits,” Roger said, scooping a large spoonful of flour from the jar as Lei Jin instructed.

“You’re sounding more and more like a mother hen,” Lei Jin said. Ever since learning Roger was the “mother” of Xiya and the others—and given his own ambiguous relationship with them—he couldn’t get used to it. If Roger kept this “caring mom” act up, Lei Jin was sure he’d be the first to break.

“I don’t mind if you call me father like they do,” Roger said with a straight face.

“Don’t scare me, Roger. My heart’s not that strong,” Lei Jin replied, wide-eyed. He never knew who his real dad was, but it couldn’t be someone who looked about the same age as him, right?

Roger chuckled and stared at him, asking, “You’re really set on leaving?”

“Of course.” Lei Jin peeled scallions as he tried to ignore the slight reluctance in his heart. “By the way, that map you gave me before—I lost it when I fell into the water. Could you draw another?”

Roger paused a long time before answering, “As soon as you decide you’re going to use it, I’ll give it to you.”

“Thanks.” Lei Jin waved the scallions in acknowledgment.

He removed the tops, kept the white stalks, finely chopped them, and mixed them with salt, egg, and flour into the meat. Then he placed it into a clean clay jar.

“Let it marinate. I’ll cook it tonight.”

“By the way, where’s the rice, peanuts, and corn I brought back last time?” Lei Jin looked around the kitchen but didn’t see them.

“They’re stored in the cellar. Want me to bring some up?”

“No, I was just asking. There’s not much left anyway—we need to save some as seeds for next year. Better to be frugal.” As much as he wanted to eat it all, he had to think ahead. A higher level of thought, indeed.

“I thought you were leaving.” In other words, why do you still care?

“I am. But every day, I still want to live well.” It was by insisting on that that he got through the hard days.

Roger looked thoughtful. “As long as you don’t regret it.”

“Roger, I don’t know anything here.” Lei Jin rarely spoke so seriously. It was one reason he had to leave—he was practically useless in this world. “Sometimes, I think the heavens picked the wrong guy. Maybe they should’ve dropped someone capable of everything, someone who could make a real impact, change this world. As for me? Forget it.” His first 28 years hadn’t been anything to write home about—no sudden genius turnarounds were likely now.

Roger scoffed lightly. “I never believed one person could change the course of history. You think the people here are fools, incapable of thinking for themselves?”

Lei Jin was about to respond when a sudden, sharp pain in his stomach made him grunt.

Roger quickly helped him sit. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Probably just ate something bad. My stomach suddenly hurt—like someone kicked me.” But he hadn’t eaten anything strange today…

Roger’s face subtly changed. There was always hot water on the small stove in the kitchen lately, since two people in the household were pregnant. He poured a cup and handed it to Lei Jin. “Drink some hot water.”

Lei Jin drank and then went to sit in the courtyard. He felt better after a while.

Roger massaged his lower back. “Have you felt pain like this before?”

“Nope.” Lei Jin held the bamboo cup, the water fragrant with the scent of bamboo.

Roger hesitated. Nearly four months—this might be the baby’s first movement, a greeting to its father. But Lei Jin didn’t know. Should he tell him? After all, it was Lei Jin’s child. He had the right to choose whether to keep it or not.

As night fell early in this season, it was just after five, and already darkening. Mingya returned from the temple and clung to Lei Jin, only letting go when he promised to make meatballs.

Lei Jin took out the marinated meat and shaped it into balls the size of fists—twenty or so in total, since there were many mouths to feed. He first boiled them in a pot, then transferred them to a clay pot, adding scallions, salt, and a bit of honey before covering and simmering. A bit of soy sauce would’ve made it perfect.

Meanwhile, he added some lard to the big pot, fried some chopped scallions until fragrant, then tossed in wild greens and stir-fried them until slightly translucent. Not many seasonings—just a bit of salt before serving.

With the fire still hot, Lei Jin made flour dumpling soup with some chopped scallions and salt.

It still wasn’t quite enough, so Xiya helped cook another pot of meat.

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

Now that it was cooler, everyone ate indoors. The stewed meatballs were brought out in the clay pot, and as soon as the lid was lifted, the rich aroma wafted out with the steam. Xiya quickly served everyone one. The meat was tender and juicy, leaving a lingering flavor. Even Berg, who wasn’t fond of meat, praised it. Mingya slurped up the remaining broth.

That night, Lei Jin showed signs of a fever. Xiya didn’t dare give him medicine and hoped it would pass on its own. Neither of them slept well—Lei Jin due to discomfort, and Xiya out of worry. Halfway through the night, still groggy, they suddenly heard a scream from Berg’s room…

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