TN: 🌶 Warning up ahead!

Even if Lei Jin encountered Berg half-dead from a beating, he would calmly walk past without so much as a frown. However, the state Berg was in clearly indicated he had been violated and severely abused. This wasn’t the first time Lei Jin had seen such a scene—after all, he had clawed his way up from the darkest corners of society. But no matter how many times he witnessed it, he could never force himself to accept it emotionally.

That said, taking Berg in was out of the question. Berg was a walking disaster, and Moya’s past experience was a clear warning. Lei Jin had no desire to be besieged by a group of merfolk. Moreover, the man they had encountered earlier didn’t seem like someone to be trifled with. Most importantly, Lei Jin wasn’t the type to repay hurt with kindness. If he didn’t take advantage of the situation to kick Berg while he was down, he’d consider himself a saint.

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

Despite telling himself not to get involved, the sight of Berg curled up, pale and trembling, stirred something in Lei Jin. He suddenly remembered why Berg’s name sounded familiar—it was the friend Jing Yue had mentioned, the one he had wanted to introduce Lei Jin to by the sea. Fate had intervened, and their first meeting had been anything but pleasant.

In fact, it had been downright hostile.

Just consider this a favor to Jing Yue, Lei Jin thought to himself. Glancing at the half-bucket of seafood in Moya’s hand, he looked up and said, “Let’s leave this for him to eat.”

Since Lei Jin was willing to let grudges go, Moya naturally didn’t object. He placed the bucket in front of Berg and turned to leave.

Berg had been in a daze, as if trapped in another nightmare. Two months ago, tired of life in the tribe, he had decided to venture out on his own, despite his dad and the tribe’s objections. He had met that man, and at first, their relationship had been peaceful, like friends. But then, inexplicably, he had been imprisoned and forced into intimacy. When he met Moya, he had just escaped but was too afraid to return home. Moya was quiet, but Berg had enjoyed his company. Yet, even the person he had come to care for had been harmed because of him. The ruins of the Nether Sea had collapsed into an unfathomable trench.

Now, the man had found him again. His dad wouldn’t be able to help. If worse came to worse, they could die together. With that thought, Berg’s eyes hardened with resolve.

The sudden appearance of food interrupted his thoughts. The familiar figure made him widen his eyes in disbelief. Berg quickly stood up, trying to grab Moya’s sleeve, but the intense pain from his privates sent him crashing to the sand.

“Moya?” Berg clutched at Moya’s pant leg, seeking confirmation.

Moya looked down at Berg’s pitiful state but felt no joy in seeing him like this.

“You’re alive… that’s great…” Berg’s voice grew weaker, but his grip on Moya’s pant leg didn’t loosen.

Only when Berg collapsed did Lei Jin notice the red and white stains on the back of Berg’s thighs. It was clear there was severe tearing inside.

“What should we do?” Lei Jin asked Moya.

“Whatever you decide, we’ll do,” Moya replied, deferring to Lei Jin.

Lei Jin knew that most people here lived simple, honest lives and would likely help someone in need. Moya probably wanted to help Berg too, but this person was infuriating. Lei Jin frowned and said, “Let him feed the fish here.”

Moya nodded. “Alright, let’s go back.” He even pried Berg’s hand off his pant leg and went to support Lei Jin, ready to leave immediately.

Moya’s reaction surprised Lei Jin. He had expected Moya to persuade him, and he would have reluctantly agreed. But Moya had agreed without hesitation.

Moya secretly smiled. After a moment of silence, he added, “Actually, this person hasn’t tried to kill us. If it’s too much, we could just toss him into a random cave.”

“Do as you like. Just keep him out of my sight,” Lei Jin said impatiently, waving his hand.

And so, Moya carried Berg on his back, one hand holding Lei Jin and the other clutching the half-bucket of seafood, as they made their way back.

Since Lei Jin had said he didn’t want to see Berg, Moya remembered a small, hidden cave nearby. It was too small for them to have chosen initially, but it was perfect for Berg now.

As for Berg’s injuries, neither of them knew how to treat them. They left some food, water, and herbs in the cave, figuring Berg could tend to himself when he woke up.

That evening, the three of them ate together. With no seasoning, Moya simply boiled the seafood in water with a pinch of salt. Despite its simplicity, the meal was surprisingly flavorful.

Moya told Xiya about their encounter with Berg. After a moment of thought, Xiya said, “Since you’ve already saved him, it’s done. But from what you’ve said, that man might not let this go. This isn’t our territory, so we need to be careful.”

After delivering this serious advice, Xiya stretched lazily and said with a grin, “I’ve been sleeping so well, my bones are rusty. I’ll go for a walk tomorrow.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Lei Jin asked, skeptical. Xiya had been drowsy all afternoon but now seemed full of energy.

“Better than ever,” Xiya replied, sensing the change in Lei Jin’s attitude toward him. Unlike before, when even their most intimate moments felt distant, things now felt more natural.

Xiya was sharp. From the moment he first woke up consciously, he had noticed the shift. His joy made his recovery feel complete, even if it was only 70% healed.

“By the way, what’s in that bowl over there? It’s quite bright.”

“Whale oil,” Lei Jin replied. The whale that had beached itself was beyond saving, so they had harvested some of its meat. It tasted similar to beef but was much tougher, making their jaws ache.

“We also found some ambergris,” Lei Jin added. In modern times, it would be worth its weight in gold, but here, it was probably useless.

Xiya examined the grayish-black substance, noting its slightly sour and fishy smell. Unfamiliar with it, he handed it back to Lei Jin. “But this whale oil is much better than the pine resin we use at home. It’s brighter and produces less smoke.”

Moya nodded in agreement. “It’s just hard to carry. But our tribe is east of the sea. We should check it out next time.”

The matter was temporarily set aside.

Since they had saved Berg, they couldn’t just let him die. He was still immobile, so they took turns bringing him food—sometimes Xiya, sometimes Moya.

But they wouldn’t have to care for him much longer. Xiya had fully recovered, and they were preparing to leave.

Today, Moya went to deliver lunch to Berg, leaving Lei Jin and Xiya alone in the cave.

Xiya lay on the grass bed, arms behind his head, lazily observing Lei Jin, who was sitting at the cave entrance basking in the sun. Casually, Xiya said, “I remember you promised to let me do it.”

Lei Jin was slightly startled, recalling the agreement. But given the current situation, he replied, “I remember, but not now.”

But Xiya didn’t plan to wait any longer. Seeing Lei Jin stand up, he took a step forward, hugged Lei Jin’s waist tightly from behind, and kissed him passionately along his ears to his neck. He slipped his hands in and began to untie Lei Jin’s belt.

The sudden kisses and caresses caught Lei Jin off guard. Before he could come to his senses, he saw a blur before his eyes and was pressed down on the straw mat by Xiya.

Xiya held Lei Jin’s waist with one hand and pressed him against him, while with the other hand he caressed his body and unbuttoned his clothes, and then he pressed on him with a passionate kiss.

Lei Jin wanted to resist, but thinking of what he had promised Xiya, he let Xiya press down on him and take off his clothes. Xiya’s kiss was passionate and eager, and the tingling pleasure soon spread throughout his body.

But Lei Jin suddenly thought of something and hurriedly stopped him, “No, Moya will be back soon, Xiya, stop it.” Although he wanted to end things with Moya, he didn’t want to do it this way.

Xiya couldn’t stop at this time. He just pulled Lei Jin’s hand to touch his member, which was already as hard as iron.

Despite this, Lei Jin still refused and said, “I agree to let you do it, but let’s go to another place, not here.” He could already feel Xiya’s hand stroking down his crease.

“It’s okay, don’t worry.” Xiya lowered his head and kissed a nipple, grinding his teeth against the nub gently. His hands were on Lei Jin’s lower abdomen, inner thighs, buttocks, and other parts, but he didn’t touch his front. He soon felt Lei Jin’s body begin to tremble unconsciously.

Lei Jin wanted to control himself, but his sensitive body could not withstand Xiya’s teasing. The moans coming from his mouth gradually became uncontrollable, leaving only hot gasps.

“Stop it, Xiya, otherwise it will be too late.” Lei Jin bit his tongue in a final resistance.

“It’s too late.” Xiya grabbed Lei Jin’s ankle and lifted him up, then looked down at the fluttering entrance between his legs where he was about to enter.

“Why is it still so tight?” Xiya inserted a finger and immediately felt walls clamping down on him. Seeing how it slowly swallowed his finger, his temperature heated up and his eyes began to burn.

“You idiot.” It was one thing for him to agree to it, but it was another thing to be treated like that. Seeing Xiya still playing with that place relentlessly, he started to curse.

When Xiya inserted the second finger, he knew that it was not going to work. He had to find something lubricant, otherwise Lei Jin would get hurt. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the whale oil in the corner.

He carried Lei Jin over and pressed him against the wall. He put some whale oil on his hand and went in to open up the area. Feeling how the entrance began to soften, he lifted up Lei Jin’s legs and thrust upward while they stood face to face.

But the best laid plans often go awry. In the middle, Moya came back, which marked the beginning of the entanglement between the three.

The sudden entry made Lei Jin frown uncomfortably. After all, he had had sex with the two of them several times, but the feeling of being penetrated was not something he could get used to. If he had not already promised Xiya this time, he would never have let him go this far. But the effect was unexpectedly good. Even Lei Jin could not deny that he had felt unprecedented pleasure at the hands of Xiya and Moya.

As long as it’s fun, being penetrated doesn’t seem to be a difficult thing to accept. Lei Jin was distracted by Xiya’s intensive thrusting and thought in a daze.

“What are you thinking about?” Xiya asked softly, holding Lei Jin by his buttocks with both hands and caressing them hungrily. His member deliberately rubbed the sensitive spots inside his body as he pulled out.

The unsatisfied emptiness inside him made Lei Jin look at Xiya impatiently and said, “Come on, get on with it…”

“Do you want me?” Xiya buried his head in Lei Jin’s chest and sucked hard, spreading Lei Jin’s buttocks wider, and quickly inserted himself into the tempting little hole again, hitting that sensitive spot in his memory heavily.

The intense pleasure made Lei Jin shout. Xiya reached out and grasped the tip of his shaft, which had already overflowed with white liquid. He whispered, “It’s still early.”

“Let go…” The pain of not being able to come made Lei Jin furrowed his brows and groan.

The stimulation at the front made his insides tighter. Xiya moaned, grabbed Lei Jin’s waist, and started thrusting impatiently.

Lei Jin knelt on the ground with his hips raised, his knees a little sore, his back pressed against Xiya’s chest. Xiya had already orgasmed inside him twice, but his tightly held member had not found release once.

The pleasure grew greater and greater, and the pain piled higher and higher.

“Xiya…” Lei Jin called his name, and the hint of begging was very obvious at this point, but Xiya did not soften his heart.

Lei Jin was almost going crazy. His shaft was hard and swollen, but Xiya’s grip was uncompromising and pushed his release back again and again.

Xiya came once again and picked up Lei Jin’s body from the ground. The two returned to the straw mat. Xiya lay down, holding Lei Jin’s waist, slowly sinking him down and forcing his walls to swallow his shaft until it was completely buried, and began another round of vigorous conquest. However, one hand was still squeezing Lei Jin’s own member.

Lei Jin was covered in sweat, and under Xiya’s rapid thrusting, he could only gasp and moan.

“You’re back?” Xiya said to the cave entrance.

Lei Jin’s body stiffened with his back to the cave entrance. He knew who the person who came back was without the need to even turn his head. He had tried every means to avoid this, but he didn’t expect to have this exact situation still play out in the end. In that case, there was nothing to do but see it to the end. Lei Jin twisted his waist and actively met Xiya’s thrusts, while keeping an eye on Moya’s movements. However, he was shocked to find that Moya did not leave at all, but came straight towards them instead.

“You’re distracted…” Xiya squeezed his weeping member lightly.

“Ah…Xiya…”

The noise coming from the straw mat behind him startled Lei Jin. He immediately wanted to turn around to check, but Moya, still wearing clothes that were cold from outside, had already come close to him.

It was cold behind him and hot in front of him, and Lei Jin was stuck in the middle, as if he was living in a world of ice and fire.

“You don’t mind if I join, right?” Moya bit the tip of Lei Jin’s ear, reached out one hand and gently pinched a cherry red nub on Lei Jin’s chest, while the other hand suddenly grasped Lei Jin’s angrily flushed member. The coolness of Moya’s hand made him shiver.

“No, no…” Lei Jin moaned. Although he always knew that they had the intention to share a wife, he would never agree to such a thing.

“It’ll feel really good.” Moya licked Lei Jin’s bare shoulders seductively and began to stroke and scratch lightly with his fingers and palm.

“No, I… won’t… ngh… let go…” Lei Jin moaned brokenly while being attacked from both sides by Xiya and Moya.

“Say yes, and I’ll let you come.” Moya hooked Lei Jin’s chin, and without waiting for him to catch his breath, he entangled their tongues in a fierce dance, not wanting to hear his refusal again.

Only then did Lei Jin see clearly that there seemed to be a strong desire in Moya’s eyes to tear him apart and eat him up.

“Say yes.”

“Moya…”

Xiya was also unwilling to be ignored below, so he suddenly increased his strength, pistoning upwards violently, holding Lei Jin’s waist and lifting him up lightly, then pressing down hard, each time hitting the sensitive spot inside Lei Jin.

Lei Jin’s loud moans and gasps were completely swallowed by Moya, while the speed of his hand moving was getting faster and faster. Lei Jin was unable to fight back under the attack of the two.

“Let us have you together.” Moya persuaded persistently.

Even though Lei Jin was about to be overwhelmed by the pleasure, he still insistently shook his head.

Xiya and Moya even took the time to share a look with each other. When Xiya came in him again, the hot liquid almost burned his inner walls. Moya finally let go of his shaft which had been kept from coming this whole time. Without the support of the two, Lei Jin sprawled bonelessly on Xiya, immersed in the afterglow of the climax. However, when he felt Moya moving away behind him, he felt a little panicked.

He wanted to ask him to stay, but what about the relationship between the three of them?

Before Lei Jin had time to think, he felt a darkness in front of his eyes. Something was covering his eyes.

“What are you doing? Take it off.” Lei Jin admonished, but his voice was still hoarse after that round, so it had no deterrent effect at all, and instead held a bit of provocative allure instead.

“Since you don’t want to see it, you can just pretend we’re one person.” Xiya held Lei Jin’s waist and pulled out. The tingling that still remained inside made Lei Jin grunt lightly. Since his eyes could not see anything, he became doubly sensitive towards touch.

But the feeling of emptiness didn’t last long, as his waist was pulled back by the arms reaching out from behind. The entrance, which had been well used by now, was already so soft that it no longer needed any lubrication. With his legs laying open, his body easily accepted the eager insertion of the person behind him.

“Moya…” Lei Jin panted. Xiya was still under him, so it was clear who was behind him.

“Mnn… mnn…” Xiya pressed Lei Jin’s head down and kissed him deeply.

The familiar thrusting sensation, the hot and wet joining intensified Lei Jin’s pleasure, and every impact made him moan loudly.

“Slow down…slow…Moya…ah…” Lei Jin was unable to move and could only allow the other to thrust in and out at will. The continuous pleasure drove his sanity almost on the verge of collapse.

“Then who am I?” Xiya’s hot hands wandered over Lei Jin’s body.

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

“Moya…ah…” The wetness below made the joining between the two smoother. The climax was getting closer and closer, making Lei Jin almost unable to breathe.

“Ah… let go… Xiya… let go…” His walls were once again filled with Moya’s cum, but Lei Jin’s own member was pinched at the base again.

By the end, Lei Jin was pressed down on the straw mat, with one leg raised to accept the relentless mining from above. He was held in the arms of one lover face to face and entered while at the same time the other lover behind him spread his legs to make it easier for the brother in front to enter. His mind was so fuzzy from pleasure that he couldn’t tell who was who. He only knew that from beginning to end, he was only allowed to come twice.

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

When Lei Jin woke up, Moya was still asleep, though he had somehow shifted back to his human form during the night. Even so, he clung tightly to Lei Jin, their bodies pressed together without a hint of space between them.

The faint light of dawn filtered through the milky mist outside the cave, casting a soft glow. The sky wasn’t particularly bright, and the gentle patter of rain on leaves created a soothing sound. Beside him, the young man slept soundly, his brow relaxed and his lips slightly parted, exuding a rare innocence and tranquility.

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

Moya, Moya, Lei Jin silently called his name. Perhaps if Moya hadn’t left yesterday, he would have finally mustered the courage to end things clearly. After all, Lei Jin wasn’t one to drag things out. Being entangled with two brothers was something he couldn’t handle. Since he had chosen to accept Xiya, he had to let go of Moya.

When Moya had left, Lei Jin had rehearsed countless ways to start the conversation. But no matter how much he prepared, he hadn’t anticipated the landslide. When he heard the mountain collapse and thought Moya was in danger, he had been ready to risk his life to save him. If something had happened to Moya, he would have chosen to die with him. Thinking back on it now, even though it had been a fleeting thought, Lei Jin couldn’t help but shiver.

If he were to make the choice again now, sober and clear-headed, he probably wouldn’t do the same. At most, he’d do as he had told Moya on their way back: If you die early, I’ll bring someone new to your grave every year and have a few rounds of sex.

But the words to end things were impossible to say now. For once, Lei Jin wanted to play the ostrich, burying his head in the sand and pretending everything was fine. He decided to wait until Xiya was fully awake before addressing the issue. A day or two wouldn’t make much difference.

For the past couple of days, Lei Jin had allowed himself to indulge in the fleeting moments of happiness with Moya, savoring what he knew would soon come to an end.

“What are you thinking about now?” Moya’s voice broke the silence. He had woken up at some point, his expression still soft with sleepiness. He leaned over and playfully nipped Lei Jin’s nose, leaving behind two faint tooth marks.

“Since you’re awake, get up already,” Lei Jin said, pushing him away. What was the point of two grown men being so clingy first thing in the morning?

“En,” Moya agreed, helping Lei Jin sit up. He fetched the medicine bowl by the fire and began the morning routine of changing the dressing on Lei Jin’s shoulder wound.

“How does it feel these days?” Moya asked as he applied the ointment.

“Same as before,” Lei Jin replied. Mu Ye had already said the medicine would only prevent the wound from worsening, which implied it wouldn’t get better either.

“Once Elder Brother is better, we’ll head back. Chunji is a skilled healer. He’ll definitely cure you. Back then, when papa…” Moya trailed off, then continued, “Anyway, don’t worry. But the sooner we treat it, the better.”

Lei Jin knew that, but it seemed like accidents kept happening one after another.

“By the way, how’s the injury on your left leg?” Lei Jin asked, noticing Moya’s slight limp when he turned. This trip had been nothing but bad luck—injuries and illnesses left and right. When they got back, he’d have to take a saltwater bath and eat some pig trotter noodles to ward off the bad luck.

“It’s almost healed,” Moya said. They were just superficial wounds, not serious, but the lack of proper rest had delayed the healing process.

“Was it that goldfish who hurt you?” If Moya said yes, Lei Jin would definitely find a way to catch that fish and make soup out of it.

“No, it was from an eagle’s talons while I was gathering herbs on the cliff,” Moya explained. But mentioning Berg reminded him of the conch he had brought back. He had examined it several times but found nothing unusual—it was just a large conch.

“Take a look at this conch. See if there’s anything strange about it. I’ll make breakfast,” Moya said, handing the conch to Lei Jin before turning to prepare the meal.

He cooked porridge and roasted meat, then fed a still sleeping Xiya two cups of warm porridge. Moya and Lei Jin examined the conch for a while but still did not figure any use out of it. Due to a lack of information about the merfolk, there weren’t even any clues to go off from.

Xiya was sleeping soundly, and only grumbled at them to go away if they had nothing better to do than be lovey-dovey. Over the past couple of days, Xiya had been waking up more often, but he was still groggy and would fall back asleep after a few words. Moya said that ample sleep was the best way for werebeasts to regain their strength. Seeing Xiya’s complexion improve day by day, Lei Jin decided to let him sleep as much as he needed.

“Let’s go for a walk by the sea. The rain’s lighter now,” Moya suggested, helping Lei Jin up. He made sure the cave entrance was securely blocked before they left.

“Bring the big wooden bucket,” Lei Jin reminded him.

The rain had indeed lightened to a drizzle. The path to the beach was muddy from the continuous downpour, so Moya carried Lei Jin on his back.

The sea was calm now. The two of them walked barefoot on the sand, letting the small waves wash over their feet before receding. The beach was littered with beautiful seashells, though Lei Jin wasn’t interested in them. He wasn’t a young girl, after all.

What he was looking for were edible shellfish—clams, oysters, crabs, and shrimp. Since the area was uninhabited, these creatures were plentiful and untouched except by seabirds. They were plump and large. Moya didn’t recognize them, so he followed Lei Jin’s instructions, catching this and that. At first, he got pinched by a crab a few times, but he soon got the hang of it.

Lei Jin had been eyeing these delicacies for a while, but with Moya missing and then Xiya injured, he hadn’t had the chance to gather them. Now that both were safe, he finally had the opportunity.

“Moya, we’ve hit the jackpot. Come here!” Lei Jin called from beside a large rock.

Thinking something had happened, Moya hurried over. Lei Jin excitedly pointed to a few black, spiny, soft creatures in the crevices of the rock.

“What are these? They look disgusting,” Moya said honestly.

“You have no taste,” Lei Jin scolded, glaring at him. It was a shame Moya didn’t recognize such a treasure. Lei Jin felt it was his duty to educate him. “These are sea cucumbers. They’re incredibly nourishing. Next time you see them, don’t hesitate—just grab them. These must have been washed ashore by the tide.”

Seeing Lei Jin’s enthusiasm, Moya reluctantly picked them up and tossed them into the bucket. Lei Jin carefully searched the rocks and found five sea cucumbers, each weighing over a pound. He was thrilled.

Moya indulged him, letting Lei Jin have his way.

“The rain’s picking up again. Let’s take shelter in that cave,” Moya suggested, leading Lei Jin to a small cave. The two of them squeezed inside, with Lei Jin practically sitting on Moya’s lap.

The distant forest and the nearby sea were shrouded in the fine mist of rain.

Moya turned his head and kissed Lei Jin, gently sucking on his tongue. Their kiss was quiet and tender, devoid of any lust, as they embraced in the drizzle.

When they finally pulled apart, they sat shoulder to shoulder. Lei Jin absentmindedly played with the conch he had brought along.

“Where did this conch come from? You’ve been staring at it for days,” Lei Jin asked, still unable to see anything special about it.

“Berg left it,” Moya admitted.

Lei Jin gave him a knowing look and handed it back. “Your old flame’s keepsake? Better take good care of it.” He had seen through Berg’s feelings at a glance. These things couldn’t escape his sharp eyes.

“Don’t be mad. Let me explain,” Moya said quickly, taking the conch.

“I’m not mad,” Lei Jin said with a smile, though his tone suggested otherwise. Even if Moya had slept with that goldfish, it wasn’t his business. But if that were true, he’d make sure Moya never got close to him again.

Knowing Lei Jin was upset, Moya hurriedly explained the whole story, including his suspicions about the conch. When it came to revenge, Lei Jin was all ears. He hadn’t forgotten how Berg had ambushed him and pulled out his hair.

“Hand it over. Let me take another look,” Lei Jin said, determined to examine the conch closely.

“Try blowing into it,” Lei Jin suggested. Since they couldn’t find anything unusual by looking, maybe the sound would reveal something.

Moya did as he was told, blowing into the conch. It produced a low, mournful sound, but nothing particularly special. Just as they were about to give up and toss it aside, the sea, which had been calm, suddenly churned violently.

Moya, with his keen werebeast eyes, was the first to see a massive fish approaching, with a strikingly tall and muscular man riding on its back. The man was heading straight for them.

Moya stood up, pulling Lei Jin into his arms. As the man drew closer, Lei Jin got a good look at him and muttered, “What, does he think he’s Poseidon? Making such a dramatic entrance.”

The enormous whale beached itself without hesitation, and the man jumped off, striding toward them. He had sharp, handsome features, deep blue hair and eyes, and wore a long blue robe.

He smiled politely but his eyes were fixed on the conch in Moya’s hand. Without preamble, he asked, “Where did you get that conch?”

“That doesn’t seem to be any of your business,” Lei Jin retorted, his tone sharp. He didn’t take kindly to strangers being rude.

The man seemed to notice Lei Jin for the first time, giving him a once-over before saying to Moya, “He’s a pretty one, but his temper isn’t great.”

“I can handle it,” Moya replied matter-of-factly, earning a glare from Lei Jin. So you were “handling” me all this time?

The man raised an eyebrow, amused by their dynamic. He clearly hadn’t expected Moya to admit it so honestly. Moya stepped in front of Lei Jin, shielding him from the man’s gaze.

“What do you want?” Moya asked, realizing the man must have been drawn by the conch’s sound. This had to be related to Berg.

“That conch was a gift to my mate. How did it end up in your hands?”

“Your mate? Berg?” Lei Jin and Moya exchanged glances, both finding it hard to believe. With his actions, Berg didn’t seem like he had a mate all this time.

“So you do know him. Do you know where he is now?” The man’s face showed genuine concern and urgency.

Moya hesitated. He had witnessed the fear in Berg’s eyes when he looked at the conch—it wasn’t the reaction of someone who had a loving mate. But Berg had hurt Lei Jin, and that was a fact.

Finally, Moya nodded but added cautiously, “We don’t know about your mate, but we found this conch on the beach.”

“So that little one’s home is here, huh? Let’s see where he can run to now,” the man said, his tone mild but his lips curling into a cold smile.

He pulled out a handful of large pearls from his pocket, their surfaces shimmering with a rosy hue, clearly very valuable, and handed them to Lei Jin. “These are for you, as a token of my gratitude.”

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

They thought the matter was settled. With Berg out of the picture and no threat from the merfolk, they could finally relax. Xiya, though still sleeping a lot, was now able to get up for meals three times a day. In a few more days, they could start their journey home.

But their peace lasted only three days. One morning, while Lei Jin and Moya were out gathering seafood, they found Berg behind a large rock. He was barely clothed, his spirit broken, his body covered in marks that spoke of intense intimacy. Even his once glorious golden hair looked dull, a far cry from his former arrogance.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Moya smiled and replied, “En?”

“Moya…”

“En…”

Every time Lei Jin called, Moya answered.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Is Xiya doing better?” Lei Jin asked.

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

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

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

It was the familiar warmth Lei Jin knew.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Roger looked north. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lei Jin found it comfortable and decided not to argue.

Moya kissed his forehead and then each of his fingertips.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“But you said Xiya would be fine.”

“It’s just a precaution.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Moya didn’t respond.

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

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

Moya lifted his eyelids slightly, signaling him to leave.

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

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

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

“Where is he?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With a deafening boom, the entire seabed trembled.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Xiya rambled, crouching down to clean the remaining fish.

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

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

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

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

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

“What?”

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

“Don’t turn around, Xiya.”

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

He would rather it be staring at him instead.

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

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

So it really does track by sound.

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

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

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

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

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

At least Xiya is safe.

But I still haven’t found Moya.

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

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

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

The sky had darkened, thick clouds gathering overhead.

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

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

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

“Give me, Xiya…”

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

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

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

“Xiya…”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“But what?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“He did this to you?”

Lei Jin nodded.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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