“Chunji, stay for lunch today. Moya is already cooking. I’ll have Grapes go invite your master too,” Lei Jin said, rubbing his sore shoulders as he saw Chunji emerge from the room.

“Alright,” Chunji replied, washing his hands in the basin in the yard, not standing on ceremony with Lei Jin.

“Grapes, wash these yourself. I’ll pick some more,” Lei Jin tilted his chin towards the pile of grapes on the table. That simple-minded Mingya, knowing Lei Jin liked grapes, had gone all out planting them around the house. Now, looking across both courtyards, all you could see were lush green grape trellises. They were almost all ripe now, more than the family could eat. Grape berries were falling everywhere. Lei Jin had recently planned to pick them to make some wine; it would be a shame to waste them.

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“Daddy, are you calling me?” Grapes pushed open the window and poked out his little head.

Lei Jin chuckled ruefully. Why hadn’t he thought of this complication when naming the kid? It really was troublesome.

Chunji laughed and beckoned Grapes over, sending him off to deliver the message to Tian Qi. As for Orange and Pomelo, naturally, they fulfilled their roles as Grapes’ constant tails and dutifully followed.

Grapes habitually glared at the two little ones but didn’t stop them from following. A pink, tender little boy led two golden little leopard cubs wobbling out the door.

Chunji clapped his hands and laughed heartily. “I think Grapes’ personality is just like yours.” Strong, independent, but also knew how to cherish and embrace the people around him. Easy to say, but how many could truly do it? At least he and Roger hadn’t managed it. That’s why he’d ultimately lost Pei Ning, why Roger and An Bu were still torturing each other. But Lei Jin… he could be the happiest one.

“My son naturally takes after me,” Lei Jin raised an eyebrow, not bothering to hide his pride at all. He handed the grapes he’d picked to Chunji, then jumped onto another stool. Lowering his voice slightly, he asked, “So… how’s the Chief’s injury?”

An Bu had been gravely wounded back then. Although he seemed fine moving around now, the foundation of his health was damaged; he needed careful recuperation. His own home was empty now, so An Sen and An Luo had discussed bringing him over. Living together meant they could look after each other.

After these years apart, Chunji had changed a lot too. He’d become more steady, cultivated his own plot of land, and practiced medicine with Tian Qi in the tribe in exchange for food, no longer needing to rely on werebeasts. Thankfully, his sharp tongue remained; otherwise, Lei Jin wouldn’t have recognized him as Chunji.

Chunji placed the washed grapes into another wooden basin, not looking up. “When I changed his dressing today, the wounds looked mostly healed. But whether his body can fully recover won’t be certain until after this winter.” After all, it was a wound near the heart, not some other place.

“That’s good. When spring comes next year and the Chief is better, my house should be finished too. I’ll save a room for him then.” Thinking about the house gave him a headache. Once they’d actually started construction, he realized building a house in this world was no simple task. Materials couldn’t be bought; they had to prepare everything themselves bit by bit. Plus, wanting it to be comfortable meant needing even more things. Rather than constantly being short of this or that, it was better to pause construction and get everything ready. Besides, winter was less than two months away, and the tribe’s elders said houses built in winter weren’t sturdy. The only upside was that Jia He had already made quite a bit of the furniture Lei Jin wanted.

Moya tossed a handful of emerald-green spinach into the pot, deftly cracked two eggs into it, and stirred. Hearing Lei Jin’s words, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. Lei Jin understood his thoughts. No matter what his papa’s final decision was, he would support it. As for his dad… he could take care of him.

“I’ve been using Chunji’s medicine since coming back, and I feel much better now,” An Bu emerged from the room just in time to hear Chunji’s words.

“I know my own medical skills; you don’t need to flatter me,” Chunji retorted, not about to accept the gratitude. Thinking back now, he’d been far too stubborn back then. Having grown up following his master in the forbidden land, he’d hardly seen any normal people. When he started traveling alone in his teens, An Bu was the one who treated him best. But from start to finish, An Bu had only ever seen him as a child to care for. Why had he persisted for so many years?

An Bu’s gaze was gentle and calm; he didn’t take Chunji’s words to heart. He added, “I’ll move back to my own place in a couple of days. Leaving the house empty isn’t good; houses deteriorate quickly without people living in them.” He knew Lei Jin and Moya were good kids, but this wasn’t really his place to stay. At his age, he’d lost the impulsiveness of youth. Living alone wasn’t so bad.

Lei Jin wanted to persuade him to stay, but seeing Roger standing behind An Bu, his face instantly darkening, the amusement in Lei Jin’s eyes grew uncontrollably intense.

An Bu naturally noticed Lei Jin’s odd reaction, and that longed-for presence behind him… how could he possibly fail to recognize it?

Roger, embarrassed and angry under Lei Jin’s teasing gaze, directed the pent-up frustration inside him at the source. “Fine! If you’re going, leave sooner rather than later. No one’s forcing you to stay!” As soon as the words left Roger’s mouth, he kicked the door shut right in An Bu’s face.

“Serves you right,” Chunji muttered, feeling no pity for him. Someone usually so clear-headed when handling matters became utterly brainless the moment Roger was involved.

Lei Jin, with his nature of delighting in stirring up trouble, patted An Bu’s shoulder condescendingly from his perch, adding fuel to the fire with words like “tsundere” and “contrary.” The others listened, confused, only managing to make Roger grab a handful of charcoal sticks from the table and hurl them out the window at Lei Jin.

Seeing Roger’s complexion improve, Lei Jin happily teased him, nimbly dodging back and forth between the stools, occasionally even managing to cut down a bunch of grapes. But pride goes before a fall. He misstepped, a stool tipped over, and he tumbled down.

Moya, who had been leaning against the kitchen doorway watching their antics, lunged forward and caught him just in time. Glancing at Lei Jin’s stomach, he sighed, “You’re the papa of three children now, can’t you be a bit steadier?”

Lei Jin was unfazed. He loosened his grip and jumped down from Moya’s arms. “It’s fine, worst case, I take a tumble.”

Xiya and Mingya had gone into the mountains today to fell trees for the lumber needed for the new house.

An Sen and An Luo returned from the fields, bringing back some tender corn, green beans, cucumbers, and a few sweet potatoes, all washed clean in the stream.

Over the past few years, more people in the tribe had started planting corn and rice. Xiya and the others often went to the Tiger Tribe and brought back vegetable seeds from there as well. Plus, people had found some edible wild greens in the mountains to cultivate. Now there was a wide variety of vegetables. Some Lei Jin recognized; others were unique to this world, things he’d never seen before, with all sorts of different flavors.

One vegetable Lei Jin called “sugar green” was Grapes’ favorite. It was a small perennial shrub with purple-tinged green leaves. It sprouted and flowered in spring, bore fruit in summer, but the fruit only ripened in winter. The fruit was fist-sized, golden yellow. Boiled in a pot for half a day, it turned into sweet, fragrant syrup. When it solidified, it became semi-transparent, pale yellow sugar blocks, crisp and crunchy. When Lei Jin boiled it, he’d add various fruits inside, making it look fresh and pretty. Grapes always kept a couple of pieces in his pocket, ready to use them to charm other little females (and sometimes little werebeasts) whenever he went out. With his cunning little mind, Lei Jin wasn’t worried about him getting bullied; he was more concerned that Grapes would bully others.

Nowadays, during the spring famine, people in the tribe rarely starved to death. Since the seeds used by many families originally came from them, their family had become very popular in the tribe. Combined with An Bu’s status, if Xiya wanted to be chief, it would be practically guaranteed.

“Ol’ Dad! Ol’ Dad!” Two little furballs tumbled in first. Oil beads still glistened on their little whiskers; clearly, they’d eaten something outside.

Lei Jin grabbed their front paws, one in each hand, and plopped them onto his knees. “Where did you eat this time? At your godfather Qi Luo’s place?”

Pomelo lifted a furry paw to wipe his mouth. “Godfather Jia He cooked a huge pot of mutton.”

Orange licked his little lips, still savoring the taste.

Thinking of this, Lei Jin wanted to laugh. They’d agreed back then to let Qi Luo and Jia He help raise one of their children. Initially, it was supposed to be Pomelo, given his slightly smaller size back then. But Qi Luo and Jia He, overjoyed at finally having a child, went all out every day making delicious food to win Pomelo over. But Orange wasn’t having it. He started impersonating Pomelo to get free meals. When the two were together, you could tell them apart by size, but when Orange went alone, no one except Lei Jin could tell them apart at a glance. Even Xiya had made the mistake of bathing Pomelo, then immediately grabbing Pomelo and dunking him in again. So, at Qi Luo’s house, they often had this bizarre scene: they’d just fed Pomelo and sent him off, and the next moment, he’d come happily trotting back for more! Qi Luo was amazed at the kid’s appetite. After several times, Jia He finally caught on and came to discuss raising both children with Lei Jin. Lei Jin figured it amounted to the same thing now, so he agreed.

Mingya doted on Grapes the most. The moment he returned, he’d scoop him up for hugs and kisses. He’d just sat down beside Lei Jin when a foot nudged his leg. “Go wash up, you smell of sweat. It’s almost dinner soon.”

Mingya obediently agreed but didn’t move. He leaned in and whispered, “Were you uncomfortable today?”

“Nothing at all. What are you so worried about?” Lei Jin propped his chin on his hand, looking at him sideways, unconcerned.

“But…” Mingya bit his lower lip, glancing at his older brothers in the kitchen, unsure how to say it.

“Do I look like I have a baby inside me?” Lei Jin took Mingya’s hand and placed it on his still flat, firm abdomen.

Mingya hugged Lei Jin, carefully feeling his belly with his hand. Since Lei Jin’s return, the three of them had agreed not to use their beast forms when mating with Lei Jin for the next couple of years. Thinking about how much Lei Jin suffered each time he gave birth scared them.

But Lei Jin always took advantage when his older brothers were away, tricking Mingya into mating in beast form. It had happened several times already. Maybe his belly already held Mingya’s baby.

“If only I could be the one to give birth. Mingya isn’t afraid of pain anymore,” Mingya said, frustrated. He knew now that werebeasts couldn’t have babies.

Lei Jin ruffled his silver-white hair, amused by his adorable expression. “Hmm, I thought about it. Having a baby who looks like Mingya wouldn’t be bad.” He would probably never truly get used to pregnancy and childbirth. But since Moya and Xiya had children, he didn’t mind giving Mingya one too.

Hearing this, Mingya immediately grinned, leaning down to plant a quick, stealthy kiss on Lei Jin’s cheek. Then he shifted into his beast form, carrying the two little ones off to wash in the stream behind the house.

With more food options available now, Lei Jin had spared no effort in turning all three into cooking masters. Moya’s lunch of crispy meat pies – the pastry coated with meat sauce, yet flaky and layered when bitten – paired with a refreshing spinach soup, earned high praise from Chunji and Tian Qi. The werebeasts favored the pot of braised meat. The fire in the hearth crackled, filling the yard with the aroma of roasting corn and sweet potatoes.

After the rainy season, the sky grew higher, clearer, and brighter each day. Lei Jin busied himself taming his antelope on the grasslands with the three little ones. Roger stayed home, constantly writing and sketching, frequently visiting the old priest at the temple for advice. In between, he discussed making a simple blueprint for the new house with Lei Jin. The werebeasts of the household went into the mountains to fell trees, gather stone, dry thatch grass, find people to weave mats, tend the fields, and go on hunts. Everyone was busy with their own tasks, but the days were warm and peaceful. An Bu eventually chose to move out. The autumn harvest arrived swiftly, and the whole family got busy.

Inspired by the wheeled crib made for Grapes, Lei Jin just described the general idea this time, and Jia He, amazingly, intuitively created a two-wheeled flat cart. Even Lei Jin had to admire the other’s woodworking talent.

Though wheels sometimes jammed or came off, overall, it was a huge help. The werebeasts didn’t have to constantly shift forms to carry things home on their backs – which was taxing on their bodies. However, time was tight, so Jia He only managed to make five carts for close families, two of which Lei Jin had reserved early. The rest would have to wait.

After ten hectic days, potatoes and sweet potatoes were stored in the root cellar. The front and back yards were covered in golden corn and soybeans drying, fiery red chilies, and brown mushrooms and beans. Lei Jin also pickled sweet garlic, garlicky eggplant, cabbage, and wild vegetable pickles. Large pottery jars sealed with mud in the corner contained preserved quail eggs, pheasant eggs, duck eggs, goose eggs, and various unidentified bird eggs – all gifts from Mura, the egg enthusiast. Since the family couldn’t eat them all, Lei Jin pickled them. With these provisions, winter should be manageable.

After the autumn harvest, the northwest wind began to blow. The wheat hadn’t been sown yet; the fields held only short corn stubble.

“Let’s go. We’ll stop here for today. It’s getting dark; time to head home,” Moya patted Lei Jin’s shoulder, calling out to Xiya and Mingya not far away.

Dusk deepened, the tribe shrouded in blue-grey cooking smoke.

“Let’s get married.” Lei Jin gazed out at the vast, dark, cold, and silent wilderness. Yet, because of the three people beside him, many things felt different. In that moment, he suddenly wanted to settle down.

“En?” Moya didn’t understand.

“I said, let’s have the ceremony.”

Bathed in the sunset, Lei Jin stood tall and straight. The wind lifted the hem of his tunic. A smile spread across his face slowly, his dark eyes gleaming with unfettered brilliance and passion.

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This version of Lei Jin… was truly beautiful. Moya was momentarily stunned.

“Let’s have the ceremony. When the house is built, the four of us will have the ceremony. I’ll take you all home!” Lei Jin shouted excitedly.

Passersby laughed good-naturedly. They’d never seen such a proactive female before.

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Ever since Rong Chuan had outright rejected Jing Yue’s suggestion of a werebeast mate, his papa had been sitting silently at the cave entrance, refusing dinner.

“Papa.” Rong Chuan brought over a bowl of stewed meat. He glanced towards Lei Jin’s cave, bustling with people and lively activity, then back at his own desolate, cold corner. He wasn’t happy living in this deserted valley either, but the thought of Jing Tang made him prefer solitude.

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Seeing him holding the bowl persistently, his papa’s heart softened, and he finally took it. But he sighed deeply. “Rong Chuan, I’m not forcing you into anything. It’s just… you’re over twenty now. You need to make decisions. I’m old. Dying alone in this valley is fine. But you? Are you going to live with me your whole life?”

Rong Chuan crouched, head in his hands, silent. He understood these truths.

When Jing Yue mentioned the candidate today, he knew it was Jing Tang. After all, the tribe only sheltered that one lone werebeast. Who else could it be? Ugly as sin, but strong as an ox.

Rong Chuan had always dreamed of marrying a beautiful female. His looks weren’t bad, but his reputation for laziness and gluttony was terrible. No beautiful female in the tribe would glance his way, let alone average ones. Only Lei Jin was willing to talk to him, but he already had three werebeast mates.

His papa knew his son’s heart best. He continued, “Forget about Lei Jin. Look at his three werebeasts. Can you beat any one of them?”

“Him? I gave up long ago.” Such a fierce female, always threatening him with knives—he was afraid he’d die in bed one day! Besides, he couldn’t perform with females anymore.

“Then what do you want? Females won’t have you, werebeasts won’t either. It’s rare the Chief softened his stance.” While the Chief couldn’t decide everything, his approval usually meant no one objected.

“Papa, you don’t understand. Jing Tang and I have… history.” Rong Chuan was forced to tell the truth.

“What history? I’ve never heard of it.” His papa was skeptical. Jing Tang was a lone werebeast, kept to himself, living in the most remote corner of the tribe. What history could he have with Rong Chuan?

“History, that’s all.” Rong Chuan instinctively covered his backside, mumbling vaguely.

For once, Rong Chuan wasn’t lying. The grudge with Jing Tang went back years. After adulthood, with no females interested, Rong Chuan developed a habit of secretly following pretty females. No one else noticed, but Jing Tang caught him several times and taught him a few lessons in private.

Jing Tang was strong. Rong Chuan couldn’t win, so he just took the beatings. But he couldn’t kick the stalking habit. Once, caught again, Rong Chuan braced for another beating. To his surprise, Jing Tang said nothing, just hoisted him over his shoulder, carried him home, and spent the entire night relentlessly driving into him, leaving Rong Chuan unable to get out of bed for three days.

From then on, every time he was caught, he got the same treatment. Rong Chuan went from kicking and screaming to gradually finding pleasure in it. Sometimes, he’d even deliberately pass by Jing Tang’s door, hoping to be caught and taken inside for some fun.

This secret affair lasted over two years, until the day his papa dragged him to the mountains to harvest wild rice. Seeing Jing Ping and Lei Jin reignited his twisted desires. Taking advantage of Lei Jin being alone, he did that thing. Later, when he and his papa were banished, Jing Tang stood by the roadside, arms crossed, watching them coldly without a word. That’s when Rong Chuan knew it was truly over between them. He never expected Jing Tang to step forward now.

Rong Chuan wouldn’t relent, and his papa couldn’t force him. He just sighed incessantly. His nights became restless. He dreamed of his papa’s increasingly aged face, Jing Tang’s cold gaze, and sometimes Lei Jin. After all, he’d thought life in the valley wouldn’t be so bad if Lei Jin stayed. But Lei Jin was leaving. The thought of being utterly alone in this deserted valley after his papa was gone jolted him awake in a cold sweat.

After several days like this, Rong Chuan finally made up his mind. He had to return to the tribe first. As for Jing Tang… they could discuss things later.

He and his papa packed their belongings and left the valley. To his shock, Jing Tang was waiting outside. But that already unpleasant face was now dark and scowling, making him look even more terrifying. His papa even took a step back in fright.

Jing Tang glanced at them expressionlessly and took their bundles.

The old family house was still there, though dilapidated after three or four years of neglect. Inside, however, it was surprisingly clean, seemingly just tidied up.

Finally back in the tribe, Rong Chuan’s papa visibly relaxed. He packed a large bag of dried goods and went door-to-door delivering them to neighbors.

“Planning to live here, or at my place?” Jing Tang asked bluntly, sitting unceremoniously on Rong Chuan’s bed. It was his first sentence of the day.

“I’ll live at home,” Rong Chuan answered stiffly.

Jing Tang laughed strangely and said, “When I’m fucking you, remember to keep your mouth shut, don’t scare your papa.”

A shiver ran down Rong Chuan’s spine, remembering the fiery passion of their past encounters. He took two steps closer, tentatively suggesting, “Or… I could stay with you?”

Jing Tang just grunted.

Rong Chuan knew that meant agreement. For some reason, his heart surged with wild joy, though he dared not show it.

Becoming bonded mates between two werebeasts wasn’t as elaborate as the ceremony for a werebeast and a female. It just needed a simple formality to let the tribe know.

Jing Tang was an outsider, so he had no relatives in the tribe. Rong Chuan was disliked by everyone. So, just three days after Rong Chuan’s return, they prepared a simple meal. Luckily, Jing Tang had a few good friends, and Jing Yue and Mu Yue graced them with half a sack of grain. Their relationship was thus settled.

They lived in Jing Tang’s small house, far from other houses. The nights were quiet—something Rong Chuan knew well. Back then, they’d fooled around in the yard without ever being caught. But half a month passed, and they slept in the same bed without a single thing happening. Rong Chuan couldn’t perform anymore, but the desire was still there. Especially every night, smelling Jing Tang’s scent, his body burned. He initiated contact a few times, but the moment he got close, Jing Tang would ruthlessly kick him away.

Each kick was accompanied by scolds: “Scum like you, why weren’t you beaten to death? Why don’t you just die?”

At those times, Rong Chuan would sit on the floor hugging his knees, letting Jing Tang scold his fill without retorting. He’d drift off leaning against the bed, only to wake up in bed the next morning.

After a few such incidents, Rong Chuan wasn’t stupid. He realized Jing Tang didn’t truly hate him. So, he resolved to properly please Jing Tang. As a werebeast, he joined the hunts again. No longer slacking off, he used his game to trade for jade mugwort from Mu Yue. At first, Mu Yue thought he was targeting females again and refused to give him any. Rong Chuan had to confess it was for personal use before Mu Yue reluctantly handed some over.

One of Jing Tang’s friends was digging a vegetable cellar, and Rong Chuan went to help. He returned after dinner feeling troubled. His friend had introduced him to a female today—a rare one unafraid of the scars on his face.

“Jing Tang,” his friend had said, “are you really going to spend your life with that Rong Chuan? He’s useless—lazy, idle. Helping him back to the tribe is kindness enough. He used to live off his papa; are you going to support him now? Finding a female is the right path. Have your own children in a few years. That’s how you build a life.”

He wasn’t unmoved. Thinking of the person in his house—what was good about him? Incorrigible, leering at every female he saw. Besides being wild in bed, was there a single redeeming quality?

“You’re back. Did you eat?” Rong Chuan offered a flattering smile, trying to please.

Jing Tang shoved him aside and walked straight in. After a few steps, he stopped, his back to Rong Chuan. “Go back to your own place tomorrow.”

Rong Chuan froze. “Why?”

Jing Tang turned, looking at him with disgust. “I found a female to bond with. You’re in the way.”

“But… but didn’t you just bond with me?”

“I only helped you back out of past feelings. Did you think you could cling to me forever?” Jing Tang ignored Rong Chuan’s visibly paling face. Keeping him meant constantly guarding against him drooling over females or running off to mess around with other werebeasts—his character was well known. Better to cut it clean now than face that later.

“When do you want me to go?” Rong Chuan asked, scraping his foot on the ground, head lowered.

“The sooner the better.” Jing Tang threw down the words and went to the back to fetch water for a bath.

He waited outside for a while. The moonlight was cool and clear. Hearing the door open and close again, he knew Rong Chuan must have left. He should feel relieved, rid of such a burden. Yet, he couldn’t find any lightness in his heart. He thought he’d go back to sleep and forget that person completely when he woke.

But as soon as he entered the house, he found that he had overestimated Rong Chuan’s thickness of skin. Who else could it be if it wasn’t Rong Chuan who was lying on the bed with his ass in the air, and teasing his hole with his fingers?

“What are you doing, Rong Chuan?” Jing Tang asked even though he felt his lower half rapidly fill out and become hot.

Startled by the yell, Rong Chuan’s hand slipped and directly pushed the jade mugwort paste deeper.

“Ah…” The cold stimulation made him shiver and groan involuntarily.

Jing Tang stared at that twitching hole, his eyes darkened, and he reached out to touch it. The fingers from both of them pressed and kneaded the skin around it together.

Rong Chuan looked back at him, pulled out his fingers, and spread his cheeks apart with his hands. Twisting his waist he moved closer, and let the other play with him at will.

Jing Tang’s eyes were red, from anger at Rong Chuan and even more at himself. He hit and spanked Rong Chuan’s buttocks, causing Rong Chuan to crawl around naked on the bed in pain and begging for mercy. Only then did he loosen his belt.

“What else are you going to do?” Rong Chuan asked in tears, huddled in a corner. He wanted to seduce him, but he didn’t expect to be beaten up.

“Fuck you.”

“I don’t want it anymore.”

“It’s not up to you.”

Although Rong Chuan had lubricated beforehand, Jing Tang’s movements were too rough, so the skin was torn almost as soon as he entered, and bright red warm blood flowed along the part where the two were connected.

Rong Chuan wanted to scream in pain but couldn’t. His body just softened and started to play dead on the bed. But Jing Tang didn’t care about that. He used Rong Chuan’s body, manhandling it to change angles and thrusted fiercely. He bit his lips violently and cursed, “From now on, if you dare to go out and mess around again, I’ll deal with you. I’ll fuck you to death.” 

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Rong Chuan screamed and clamped his legs together. The two of them bit and tangled with each other on the bed like wild beasts. Since that day, Jing Tang never mentioned chasing Rong Chuan away again, and Rong Chuan lived there peacefully. He only thought about females occasionally, but Jing Tang could satisfy him most of the time. 

Jing Tang often complained about Rong Chuan’s shameless and pathetic thirst to be fucked, but he thought in his heart that since Rong Chuan was his, of course he had to be responsible for feeding him. There was no other way, who asked him to fall for such a bastard?

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They traveled southward. To the north lay towering, snow-capped mountains stretching endlessly. Vast, primordial forests remained untouched, wild and uninhabited. Between the trees, rivers and streams wound like ribbons, and lakes gleamed like polished mirrors. Animals—some familiar, some unknown—leaped and ran or ambled leisurely by the water. Some broad-leaved trees had already begun to show autumn hues, painting the landscape in vibrant colors. Further south, they passed deep gorges and rushing rivers, crossed expansive highland meadows, and entered yet more vast stretches of jungle, though the trees here remained deeply, richly green.

Having been in this world for four years, this was the first time Lei Jin felt the desire to truly appreciate the place where he would spend the rest of his life.

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As they chatted, a sudden commotion erupted from the dense woods ahead. A large flock of enormous, brilliantly colored birds took flight, their trailing tail feathers over a meter long, shimmering dazzlingly in the setting sun.

“What are those? They look stunning,” Lei Jin said, deftly plucking a few tail feathers as the birds swept past them.

Xiya flew closer. The wind was too strong, so he had to raise his voice, “Those are Five-Colored Brocade Pheasants. Pretty to look at, but their meat is sour and tough, not good to eat at all. Though I’ve heard long ago, tribal chiefs used to wear the topmost plume from their tails as a headdress.”

Lei Jin couldn’t quite imagine An Bu strutting around with a giant bird feather on his head. But given his severe injuries, stepping down was probably inevitable anyway.

“Speaking of which, how exactly did the Chief get injured?” Lei Jin only knew it happened three years ago, not the specifics.

“During a tribal hunt by the water, they were ambushed by a pack of Heavyclaw Beasts. Several warriors were killed instantly. As Chief, An Bu couldn’t retreat first. He covered everyone’s escape, but his wings, never fully healed from a past injury, couldn’t dodge in time. A beast tore a deep gash across his chest. He was barely clinging to life when they brought him back to the tribe. Thank the heavens Tian Qi was there.” An Bu had been unconscious upon return. By the time he finally woke, Zhu Xi had already made the firm decision to leave. Xiya had heard this from Roger, so it was likely true. The deeper complexities between the older generation weren’t for them to pry into. If Roger ever truly accepted An Bu again, they wouldn’t oppose it—though Roger’s attitude showed no signs of softening.

“If you become Chief someday and face danger, will you have to lead from the front too?” Lei Jin’s concern was personal.

“Of course,” Xiya replied without hesitation.

“Seems it’s the same everywhere,” Lei Jin murmured to himself. Whether in the modern world or here, being the leader was tough. Protecting the tribe was a chief’s duty, after all.

“No caves nearby, but there’s a hill ahead. At least it’ll block the wind tonight. Shall we rest there?” Moya suggested. Though dusk was still some ways off, they weren’t in a hurry. Reunited after three years apart, they were savoring the journey, leisurely gathering autumn bounty. The forests were abundant this season; they’d already collected bags full of plump hazelnuts, pine nuts, various wild mushrooms, and thick black wood ear fungus. Wild grapes, oranges, strawberries, sour plums, and unnamed berries were everywhere, too plentiful to pick.

“Mingya, scout ahead first,” Moya said, diving down. Mingya had been on many hunting trips by now and knew well that even the calmest-looking wilderness, especially deep mountains and dense forests, hid constant dangers. Complacency was deadly.

“Be careful,” Xiya called out, worried about Mingya’s impulsiveness, and followed him down.

By the time Moya and Lei Jin landed, the other two had already checked the perimeter and returned with some game. Food in the wild wasn’t fancy: venison and mushrooms stewed in thick bamboo tubes, and pheasants stuffed with dried fruits, which turned out surprisingly delicious. Hot water after the meal and fresh fruit for dessert—this was already quite luxurious. Thinking back to that winter four years ago, surviving on melted snow and cold meat… it was incomparable.

“What are you thinking about, Lei Jin?” Mingya sidled up, resting his head automatically on Lei Jin’s shoulder.

“That winter when I left,” Lei Jin replied, relaxing his shoulder to make Mingya more comfortable.

“Mingya won’t let you leave this time,” Mingya said, remembering being abandoned. His face scrunched up unhappily, and he immediately wrapped his arms tightly around Lei Jin.

“Little dummy,” Lei Jin chuckled, not pulling away despite the slight awkwardness. He tugged Mingya’s ear and whispered conspiratorially, “How about we hold the bonding ceremony as soon as we get back to the tribe?”

“You mean with us…?” Mingya lifted his head from Lei Jin’s shoulder, his large, bright eyes wide with disbelief. Since returning from the forbidden land, his brothers had asked Lei Jin countless times, but he’d always refused. Now Lei Jin was suggesting it himself?

Lei Jin covered his mouth, winking. “This is a secret just for Mingya. Don’t tell anyone.” The other two could find out later.

“Mingya understands. Mingya will keep the secret!” Mingya nodded earnestly, though his round eyes were already sparkling with irrepressible joy.

“Then call me ‘husband’ first,” Lei Jin coaxed, a sly glint in his eye.

“Husband!” The adorable boy complied readily, utterly clueless about the term’s implications.

Thrilled, Lei Jin planted several loud kisses on Mingya’s forehead. Xiya and Moya, busy with tasks nearby, exchanged bewildered glances, wondering what secrets the two were giggling about with their heads together.

The journey was smooth and uneventful. The skies over the forbidden land remained shrouded in thick fog. After over three years, the entrance near the passageway was overgrown with weeds, but Lei Jin still remembered the map from back then. Finding it wasn’t too troublesome. The crystal vein was hard; without proper tools, mining was difficult. But the collapsed debris from years ago provided plenty to gather. To avoid accidents, Mingya stayed guarding the entrance while Xiya, Moya, and Lei Jin ventured into the tunnel. By the faint white glow of the crystals, they filled five or six large hide sacks. Even then, they hadn’t reached the wall sealing the Door of Reincarnation.

Upon emerging, they encountered a dozen or so Feather tribespeople gathering herbs in the nearby swamps, their neck baskets filled with fresh green wormwood.

As Lei Jin listened to Moya recount events from years past, they even found a lone slipper half-buried in the grass, though it was now rotted beyond recognition.

“Um… are you the Leopard Tribe’s black-haired uncle?” A slightly childish voice piped up nearby.

Lei Jin turned to see a boy of about eight or nine. He had flaxen hair, bright sapphire-blue eyes, and features that were pleasant, if not yet handsome. His little face was set in a serious, almost imposing expression.

“Are you talking to me?” Lei Jin didn’t recall seeing this child before.

“For you.” The boy stared intently at Lei Jin, seeming to confirm something, then unceremoniously dumped the armful of wormwood he was carrying into Lei Jin’s hands before turning to run.

Lei Jin was baffled.

The boy stopped after two steps, hesitated for a long moment, then blurted out, “My name is Chaoyu. I like the little black-haired one in your family.” 

Lei Jin raised an eyebrow, amused.

“I’ll become the greatest healer on the continent!” The boy declared fiercely, clenching his fists, then vanished into the crowd of Feather tribespeople.

“The Feather Tribe excels in medicine. Their greatest healer is usually also their chief,” Moya added beside him.

“Whoever he is, wanting to marry my son? Bold kid. But when did he even see Grapes?” Lei Jin frowned, trying to recall. He’d clearly seen Lei Jin before too. Maybe at the Leopard Tribe market three years ago?

“Don’t overthink it. Our Grapes is still young. This is way too early. And he’s just a child; his words can’t be taken seriously,” Moya reassured him, squeezing his shoulder.

“Somehow, that kid reminded me of you, though,” Lei Jin pinched Moya’s cheek playfully. “When I first came to your house, you gave me the cold shoulder every day.” His tone turned teasingly flirtatious. “Come on, give your husband a smile.”

Moya smiled wordlessly. He couldn’t very well admit he’d been shy back then. That would earn him endless mockery from Lei Jin.

This wasn’t a pleasant place. They had no desire to linger. Packing the crystals, they prepared to leave soon after. Each carried two sacks of crystals – nothing for werebeasts. After so many experiences, even someone as thick-skinned as Lei Jin found himself pondering: the Forbidden Land, the Temple, the Door of Reincarnation, the giant stone pillars and patterns in the tribe… who had built these mysterious things? Chunji seemed to know much but remained tight-lipped.

Later, deep in the forest, they skirted around a fierce fight between a group of Bear Tribe and Wolf Tribe members, wanting no trouble. The four were thoroughly enjoying themselves, their wanderlust unstoppable. Lei Jin proposed visiting the Wolf and Bear Tribe settlements.

The Wolf Tribe chief was indeed Qinghe now. He welcomed them warmly, acknowledging that his rise to leadership owed much to Lei Jin’s behind-the-scenes advice.

“When did you do all this? We had no idea,” Xiya asked as they prepared to leave the Wolf Tribe after three days and head to the Bear Tribe.

“Just discussed it during the tribal market,” Lei Jin replied. Brute strength he might lack, but strategy? These relatively straightforward werebeasts were no match for him.

They set off in the morning and finally crossed the snowy mountains just before nightfall. Snow swirled fiercely on the peaks, while heat and torrential rain battered the foothills. The stark contrast was brutal. By the time they found the entrance to the Bear Tribe settlement, it was well past midnight.

Patrolling werebeasts spotted them and reported to the chief. Le Ping arrived to lead them to his house. After baths and changing clothes, they barely slept before dawn began to break.

Lei Jin awoke to the gentle sound of waves lapping. Xiya and Moya were gone. Only Mingya remained, perched by the bed, his head nodding as he dozed.

“Come up here and sleep, Mingya,” Lei Jin murmured, stroking his hair.

Mingya, bleary-eyed and half-asleep, clambered onto the bed and rolled snugly into Lei Jin’s arms, quickly falling asleep again.

Once Mingya was sound asleep, Lei Jin carefully extricated his pinned arm and got up, bare feet meeting the cool bamboo floor. The room had two doors: the south-facing one they’d entered last night, and a west-facing one where the sound of waves came from.

“Holy shit, living the life!” Lei Jin couldn’t suppress a low exclamation of surprise. Le Ping’s house was built high. Stepping out the west door led to a wide terrace extending towards the sea. Comfortable-looking rattan chairs and tables were scattered casually. Flowerbeds filled with blooming purple cluster-flowers adorned the corners, vibrant against the backdrop. Below the terrace stretched the calm, azure sea. A flock of white seabirds swooped in, jostling each other and chattering noisily.

“Pretty female! Look here! Watch me do a flip!”

“Look how cute I can be!”

“Look at me…!”

“Look at me…!”

“Idiots! He can’t understand you!” The largest bird flapped its wings authoritatively, landing a peck on each head, instantly silencing the chaos.

It then folded its wings and strutted confidently onto the terrace railing before Lei Jin. “I’m their boss. Pretty female, are you new here?”

“Boss, he can’t understand you!” the flock chorused in protest.

“Of course I know that! I was just engaging in routine flirtation!” the boss retorted, flustered, before diving back to peck at them. Amidst squawks and flapping wings, the noisy group gradually flew away.

Lei Jin burst out laughing. He’d noticed birds in this world loved to gossip and were incredibly chatty. Back home, he’d often overheard crows exchanging news with the swallows nesting under the eaves, complete with commentary: how terrible someone’s dinner looked, which werebeast got rejected in bed again, who had bad character for talking behind backs… the topics were endless, covering everything.

Meeting Le Ping’s family formally, Lei Jin generously gifted a sack of crystals. In the werebeast world, sparkling gems meant wealth. His gesture successfully won the favor of Le Ping’s entire household. Le Ping, in his forties, had two werebeast sons slightly older than Xiya, who shared one mate and had moved out. Le Ping explained this house was built long ago by his papa’s design.

“I was very young then. I only have a vague memory of his face. Granddad said Dad and Papa left, saying they were going traveling, and never came back,” Le Ping said, his gaze lingering on Lei Jin, perhaps hoping to see some hint.

Lei Jin debated whether to relay Tian Qi’s words. Near the Door of Reincarnation, he’d found a relatively intact skeleton. If Tian Qi was right—that one person’s departure required another’s life—then those bones likely belonged to Le Ping’s dad.

“Granddad said Dad and Papa were deeply in love. I always hoped they’d gone to papa’s tribe and just couldn’t return yet,” Le Ping continued. “I know the eastern tribes fairly well. None have dark-haired, dark-eyed females like you. Are you from the Western Continent?”

“Western Continent?” This was the first Lei Jin had heard of it.

“The land across the sea. The Merfolk in the ocean told me there’s a continent to the west with six tribes, just like the Eastern Continent has Tiger, Leopard, Wolf, Bear, Feather, and Merfolk tribes.”

Lei Jin shook his head. “No, I’ve never been there.” He decided against mentioning Le Ping’s parents. It wouldn’t change anything, and it was better to let Le Ping keep his hopeful memories.

Le Ping’s disappointment was palpable, but after so many years, he was used to it. He quickly rallied. “Since it’s your first time in Bear Territory, let me show you around.”

Lei Jin was eager. Knowing the deep-seated enmity between the Leopard and Bear Tribes, exploring safely required a Bear Tribe guide—of course it was even better if it was the chief himself.

The Bear Tribe settlement spread along the mountain slopes down to the sea. Houses had white stone walls and grey-black roofs and streets—subdued colors, but softened by abundant green plants climbing the walls. Le Ping explained the grey-black material was coral traded from the Sirens, the white stone came from nearby mountains.

By afternoon, the tide rose, flooding the lower streets. People paddled hollowed-log canoes, hawking goods along the waterways.

“Deer leg for your flour!” someone called from a house window, and a canoe promptly paddled over.

Mingya’s eyes were wide with fascination. “So fun!” he kept saying, tugging Lei Jin’s hand.

As they walked, Lei Jin noticed younger werebeast often glared at them—more specifically, at Xiya and the others. But older werebeasts were quite friendly towards Lei Jin, some even stopping to chat.

“They all remember my papa. He was only here less than a year but did so much for the tribe. Everyone loved him,” Le Ping said, pride evident in his voice.

They spent five or six pleasant days in Bear Territory, eating, drinking, and exploring. They even met the Sirens—dark-skinned and not particularly handsome, unlike the Merfolk, but with enchanting voices. Their tears, Le Ping mentioned, fell as pearls.

But Lei Jin wasn’t just sightseeing. Visiting the Wolf Tribe was to gauge Qinghe’s stance. Honestly, Qinghe seemed more reckless than cunning, certainly no match for Yu Qi’s intellect. But Yu Qi’s betrayal, ambushing allies and wounding Moya and the others, was despicable.

Coming to Bear Territory was to see their bronze smelting and, ideally, trade for some bronze and iron. When Lei Jin broached the subject, Le Ping hesitated for days before finally agreeing to take Lei Jin alone to the bronze workshop to pick a few items. Xiya and the others were not permitted.

Lei Jin understood tribal secrets. He didn’t push, leaving his partners behind.

The Bear Tribe’s bronze workshop was deep in the mountains. Many nearby rocks showed peacock-blue streaks. Le Ping explained these were copper-bearing. The workshop was vast, with intricate divisions of labor. The primary fuel was charcoal.

Finished products were few, mostly small items. Lei Jin traded half a sack of crystals for three well-balanced knives. Noticing someone vigorously blowing into a thick tube at a furnace, he asked curiously.

“Air makes the fire burn hotter, forging better bronze faster.”

“Isn’t that exhausting?” Blowing constantly by mouth.

“Nothing else works,” Le Ping admitted helplessly.

“You could make something like bellows,” Lei Jin suggested with a mysterious smile.

He’d seen hand-pumped bellows as a child, though he couldn’t build one. But the principle of a foot-pump—pull for air in, push for air out—he understood.

Le Ping was instantly excited. He promised Lei Jin could take back his crystals and pick more items if he could devise a solution. Lei Jin’s condition: the Bear Tribe must sell bronze and iron to the Leopard Tribe. He heavily implied future collaborations, though privately he knew he was out of ideas—this was pure luck. He figured Roger might know more anyway.

The device wasn’t hard: three wooden hoops, two boards sealing the ends, covered tightly with hide. The leather bladder idea worked perfectly. Le Ping readily agreed to Lei Jin’s terms.

“What was the real purpose of all this traveling?” Moya asked later. He could usually guess Lei Jin’s motives, but this time he was baffled. Was dragging them all over really just for fun? He doubted it.

“A wedding gift for you three,” Lei Jin replied, nipping Moya’s lip with a smile. He closed his eyes, hiding the dangerous glint within. With tribes potentially balanced precariously, conflict could erupt anytime. His wives were up to him to protect. So, alliances where possible; where not, change the leadership. As for bronze and iron? Future weapons. Even if he had to trick them out now, he would.

Lei Jin knew he might not be a good man. He might never love them equally. But he was trying, seriously, for each of them. Surely that was enough?

“That year, Moya and I could only hide crouched in the grass over there,” Xiya pointed to some tall reeds across the river. They’d pointed out countless such spots along the way.

Lei Jin listened but offered no comment. He knew exactly what Xiya was hinting at.

After Xiya rambled on fruitlessly, getting no reaction, he changed tactics. “How about grilled fish for lunch today?”

Lei Jin stretched lazily in the shade, finally deigning to lift an eyelid. “I thought you guys didn’t much like fish?” The day was unusually hot and stifling. Xiya had predicted heavy rain, so they’d stopped mid-morning. They were by the same river where he and Mingya had grilled fish years ago.

“But I like it when you make it,” Xiya laid on the charm thickly.

“You wouldn’t be trying to make up for missing out back then, when you were hiding in the bushes, would you?” Lei Jin teased. He knew werebeasts generally disliked aquatic food. Only because of him and Roger did their family eat it occasionally. Most tribespeople only ate fish during spring shortages, preferring meat otherwise.

Xiya choked slightly. That was precisely it. Retracing their steps felt dreamlike—that wary female from years ago was now truly their mate, bearer of their three adorable cubs. Only the tantalizing memory of grilled fish from that day still haunted him. He wanted to taste it.

“Alright,” Lei Jin agreed. Grilling fish wasn’t hard. Indulging them once wouldn’t hurt.

“Must add purple fruit!” Xiya pressed his advantage.

Lei Jin nodded. So that’s what the berries were called. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flash of barely suppressed smile in Moya’s wide, dark green eyes. Ah, so more than one was craving it.

Ingredients were easy to find. The fish cooked quickly. Lei Jin grilled while the other three ate heartily. Lei Jin’s mouth wasn’t idle either, constantly fed bites. The scene mirrored the past—same people, same place—only their hearts were different now.

The oppressive heat, combined with the hot meal, left Lei Jin drenched in sweat. He left the cleanup to them. Shedding clothes as he walked, he headed eagerly for the river, desperate for a cooling swim. In his haste, he missed the three pairs of eyes burning with hunger behind him.

They hadn’t exactly been celibate on the journey; it wasn’t starvation driving them. But this place held unique meaning—the first time they’d held their mate, even if they hadn’t gone all the way then. Today, they intended to fulfill that old wish.

“Stop messing around, you guys!” Lei Jin had just finished bathing and was about to rinse his clothes when he saw the trio approaching. He knew trouble was brewing.

Xiya sidled up with a cheeky grin, suddenly grabbing Lei Jin and pulling him down to straddle his lap.

“Looking for another beating?” Lei Jin threatened, hands gripping Xiya’s neck, half-tempted to squeeze. He always started the trouble!

Unfazed by the empty threat, Xiya simply grinned wider, guiding Lei Jin’s hand down to his own arousal. “Let’s do it. All four of us together.”

As soon as he said this, Lei Jin pushed with his arms and wanted to jump up immediately. Even if he had done it several times in the wild already, it was not under the scorching sun, nor in such an open place.

And a foursome? “Dream on, you.” Lei Jin struggled a few times but failed to break free. Instead, Xiya’s rough animal leather hide pants rubbed against the sensitive part behind him, causing it to tingle.

“Really don’t want to do it?” Moya’s warm breath brushed the back of his neck, and his fingertips slipped into the gap between his cheeks to rub deeply and shallowly at the entrance.

“You bastards.” Lei Jin widened his eyes and cursed them fiercely, wondering if he had given them the impression of a pushover. Whenever it came to such a thing, no one would listen to what he said. Even if they must do it, they could at least move to a more private place because what if someone passed by here? He wasn’t interested in putting on a public show.

“We’ll move to another place in a while.” Xiya agreed.

“Move now.” Lei Jin did not give in.

“En, okay.” Xiya winked, answered absentmindedly, and loosened his pants.

Moya chuckled and said, “Don’t worry, we’ll pay attention to the surrounding movements.” Then, pinching Lei Jin’s chin, he turned his head to kiss him.

“Mmph… mmph…” How could Lei Jin not understand what they were up to? It was obvious that they were going to do it here, but his erection had already been grabbed by Xiya and rubbed together against his own hardness, and the pleasure was soul-stirring. The fear of being discovered at any time in the wild only increased the sensitivity of his body.

Mingya had already changed into his beast form, lying behind Lei Jin, hooking his waist with his paws and slightly lifting his buttocks. A tongue with small barbs began to lick in without hesitation, moistening, scratching, and thrusting.

“Ngh…” Lei Jin let out a hum from behind his teeth, and his body was instantly drained of strength. He could only fall limp in Xiya’s arms.

Mingya’s uncontrollable desire burned even more because of Lei Jin’s unintentional moan, and he raised his own hips, eager to thrust in. Luckily, Moya reached out and pressed his shoulders in time. Mingya’s haze of desire immediately cleared, and he changed into human form. Bending down, he draped against Lei Jin’s back, his hands rubbing and pulling those firm buttocks apart, before pressing against the small opening in the middle, and burying it in one stroke. Lei Jin felt his body invaded by a thick hardness, and his fingers on Xiya’s shoulders tightened unconsciously.

“So good, Lei Jin…” Mingya panted brokenly in his ear.

Lei Jin gritted his teeth and kept silent, his eyes unconsciously looking around.

“We’re here.” Moya turned his head, pried open his lips, and drove straight in.

The body that wanted to dodge would always fall into someone’s arms, and there were three pairs of hands that kept wandering and caressing him. There was always someone moving inside him. When a stream of liquid heat exploded against his inner walls, and the warmth left, his body didn’t even get the chance to feel empty for long. Soon another person thrust in again. Unlike Mingya’s random thrusting, Moya stayed in his body for a while, and when he got used to it, he would then move faster and faster. Lei Jin half-knelt and half-lay on his front, twisting his waist and hips, meeting the fierce rhythm behind him, while his leaking member left ambiguous white traces on Xiya’s lower abdomen.

Finally, it was Xiya. He might have been waiting too long, because as soon as he came in, his foot left Lei Jin breathless.

“Too fast…” Lei Jin opened his mouth and panted, his brows furrowed. His long legs wrapped around Xiya’s waist, tightening and tightening, signaling him to slow down.

The four were so immersed in their lovemaking no one noticed when the sun had disappeared, dark clouds gathering, until heavy rain poured down unexpectedly.

Even so, they kissed and entangled madly in the rain, with thunder and lightning, heavy rain and fog as their backdrop. Lei Jin had given up his initial insistence and was only loyal to the most primitive feelings in his body. He completely opened himself and welcomed their entry at every turn. The heat of their hardness combined with the cold of the rain slipped into his body on every thrust.

Lei Jin’s consciousness was still clear, so he knew that it was Xiya who carried him into the cave to take shelter from the rain, but even for this brief walk he kept a hold of his hips and continued pistoning in and out all the way. In the cave, Moya pressed him against the wall and had another round with him. When Mingya entered from behind again, Lei Jin’s arms and legs were still entangled around Moya, having yet to slip off.

Even for Lei Jin, having lived over thirty years old, this was a first to experience such wild abandon. Waking the next day, aside from the usual soreness in his back and legs, he felt surprisingly fine. Still, they rested an extra day. After two months on the road, one more day didn’t matter.

Four years ago, Lei Jin arrived in this strange world, lost and desperate to find a way back.

Four years later, he’d chosen to stay for these three. Now, he just wanted to bring his wives home.

They were close to the tribe now. After two months of wandering, lingering a little longer was no issue.

The tribe hadn’t changed much in three years. Since Roger had returned with the children, people weren’t surprised to see Lei Jin. Many familiar faces came specifically to visit.

The house buzzed with activity for several days. Lei Jin took the opportunity to announce his plan to build their own house. With the farming slack season, many were happy to help, especially Qi Luo and Jia He, who already knew Lei Jin had promised them one child for co-parenting.

The crystals Lei Jin brought back were meant for making glass and mirrors. Extravagant? Perhaps. But comfort was worth it. Money could be earned again later.

The site was chosen, not far from the old house. Plans were quickly drawn up, and construction began. If all went well, the house could be finished before winter.

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

“Daddy, what are you doing?” Grapes clung to Lei Jin’s back as he bent to lift a stone. The child always seized any chance to stick to him; Lei Jin was used to the weight by now.

“Building our home.”

“Daddy, where was your home before?”

“This is the first,” Lei Jin replied. He’d once dreamed of having a wife and children by thirty. He was a few years late, but finally, he was building a home of his own.

“Oh,” Grapes tilted his head, only half-understanding, but agreeing nonetheless.

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The planned journey had to be delayed because An Bu’s old injury relapsed. Everything else could be set aside; after all, human life was paramount. An Bu’s injury fluctuated between better and worse, requiring constant care at his side. At night, everyone took turns keeping watch, but most of the time, it was Moya.

“Moya, go out and have dinner. I’ll take over here.” Lei Jin entered carrying a large bowl of soup and a stack of small flatbreads.

Moya wiped his face and stood up from beside the bed. He took the food from Lei Jin and asked, “Have you eaten?”

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

“Not yet. Xiya will bring me a bowl of food later. I’ll eat here with the chief.”

Moya nodded. He helped An Bu sit up and placed a long stone beside him to serve as a table.

“What are we having today?” An Bu asked with a smile.

“Bone broth soup and wild vegetable egg flatbread.”

Xiya came in carrying two more bowls—one with Lei Jin’s soup and another with cold-tossed water celery—and a damp towel draped over his arm.

“It looks delicious,” An Bu said, wiping his own hands as Xiya and Moya left, continuing the conversation.

The bone broth, simmered until milky white, was rich and fragrant. It contained whole meatballs, bird eggs, blanched lotus root slices, and greens. The wild vegetable flatbreads were thin. The coarse flour had a slightly bitter taste, but mixed with the wild vegetables, it imparted a unique, natural freshness.

“Try this water celery too. No seasonings, just blanched in hot water with a pinch of salt,” Lei Jin said naturally, picking up a bunch for him.

“Crisp and delicious. Your cooking has always been excellent,” An Bu never hesitated to express his satisfaction with Lei Jin.

“You have good taste,” Lei Jin grinned. He never knew modesty when it came to compliments.

“You and Roger are very different,” An Bu glanced towards the door, his tone tinged with some emotion.

“Of course, I cook way better than him,” Lei Jin feigned ignorance. These matters weren’t for him to interfere with; continuing the topic would only upset An Bu.

An Bu smiled faintly, murmuring softly as if explaining, “I didn’t mean anything else.”

Lei Jin looked at him and said bluntly, “I can’t help you with this. If you can’t let go of Roger, then talk it out with him properly.” He’d heard from Moya that Mura and Xia Wei had completed their bonding ceremony, Zhu Xi had moved in with them, and now only An Bu remained in that house. The message was clear: they would live separately from now on. He didn’t understand what An Bu was still hesitating about.

“Rogee won’t forgive me. He’s hated me from the very beginning. The first time we were together… he was sick, not… entirely lucid,” An Bu set down his food, murmuring softly.

Rape? Seduction while incapacitated? Lei Jin was stunned by this sudden revelation of a past secret. His mind circled around those two words. He’d thought only someone like Rong Chuan could stoop so low. An Bu usually seemed steady, responsible, and honorable—Lei Jin never imagined he could have done such a thing. No wonder Roger hadn’t been able to let it go for over twenty years. No wonder Moya said An Bu’s very existence reminded Roger of bad memories.

I wonder if the scar on Roger’s left hand came from that.

Lei Jin’s hand clenched a few times; he really wanted to punch this man. But he knew he didn’t have the right. That privilege belonged to Roger and Moya. Besides, seeing An Bu’s ashen, desolate expression, he was genuinely afraid one punch might finish him off.

“Forget it. Sort out your own business. I won’t interfere. Hurry up and eat before it gets cold. You’re still not well,” Lei Jin said without looking up, shoving two more small flatbreads at him.

“I shouldn’t have told you this,” An Bu said, unsure why he had blurted it out. At least Lei Jin wasn’t a gossipy kid.

If Lei Jin knew An Bu thought of him as a kid, he’d definitely bristle. Fortunately, he didn’t.

Lei Jin didn’t reply because he didn’t know what to say.

“Can you tell me what your world was like?” An Bu’s voice held a note of hope. Roger had never spoken of it, but he wanted to know.

“My world? The biggest difference from this one is… there were women,” Lei Jin said, temporarily setting aside the heavy topics. A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. He was the expert on this subject: “Women… they have two extra lumps of flesh on their chests. Holding them, their bodies are soft and smooth, the feel is top-notch.”

An Bu looked utterly bewildered. Lei Jin, feeling chummy, patted his shoulder and hopped onto the bed, squatting as if ready to demonstrate in detail.

A few dry coughs sounded from the doorway. Roger stood there, looking at their shoulder-to-shoulder chummy posture with a strange expression. “Are you finished eating? The medicine is ready. They’ll bring it in soon.” The prescription from Mu Yue included daily decoctions and medicinal baths, which seemed quite effective.

Lei Jin agreed, jumping off the bed. He turned back to An Bu, “Guess we’ll have to continue our discussion another day,” sounding genuinely disappointed. It was a rare chance to openly reminisce about the taste of women, something he couldn’t share with his three jealous mates.

An Bu gave a small smile and said hesitantly, “Actually… we don’t have to continue this topic.” Instinct told him it was best to stop here.

Lei Jin raised an eyebrow. “How can that be?” He wasn’t done yet.

“What are you talking about?” Roger demanded.

“Women,” An Bu answered honestly.

Roger whirled to glare at him. Lei Jin, sensing trouble, had already gathered the bowls and utensils and made a swift escape, leaving only a rapidly retreating back.

“He really is clever and straightforward,” An Bu praised sincerely.

“You get along well with him?”

“It’s hard not to like him. He knows his limits, speaks interestingly, and most importantly, he’s always so full of energy…”

“Enough, An Bu! He’s your son’s mate!” Roger suddenly felt unbearably irritated and didn’t want to hear another word.

An Bu frowned at him but obediently fell silent.

Unable to bear the suffocating atmosphere, Roger threw out, “I’ll go check the medicine,” and hurried away.

“I know he’s my son’s, not my brother’s,” An Bu muttered, supporting himself against the rock wall to lie down. He had no more expectations.

Time flew. By the time An Bu’s injury had healed enough for long-distance flight, it was already autumn. Though the weather was still hot and muggy, heavy rains had noticeably decreased. In the interim, they had even helped Hao Chen’s family harvest a season of rice.

“You’ve been away so long; what about home?” Lei Jin asked Xiya as they left Hao Chen’s place after saying their goodbyes. They were leaving early the next morning, so they could only visit during the quiet afternoon lull.

“We left it in Qi Luo and Jia He’s care. The wheat and rice should be harvested by now. They probably planted corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes,” Xiya replied, carrying a large bundle of melons, vegetables, food, and some woolen fabric prepared by Hao Chen.

Lei Jin nodded, holding a jar of meat paste.

“By the way, there’s something I wanted to discuss with you.”

Lei Jin motioned for him to continue.

“I was thinking we could co-parent one of the twins, Pomelo or Orange, with Qi Luo.” He and Qi Luo had grown up together; he couldn’t just watch him grow old with no one to care for him.

“They haven’t found anyone else to co-parent with all these years?” Lei Jin asked, surprised. That seemed excessively patient. A suspicion arose, and he eyed Xiya suspiciously. “Or were you planning to take a wife and have a few kids to share with him?”

“Absolutely not!” Xiya quickly protested, asserting his innocence. Though some females had suggested it, mentioning that now would be suicidal—Lei Jin had only recently admitted he felt something for him.

“Good, if not.”

“Wait, what’s ‘wife’? Does it mean a female?” The immediate crisis past, Xiya’s curiosity flared.

“Like, you are the wife,” Lei Jin answered calmly.

“That doesn’t sound right. You just said ‘take a wife and have kids.’ The one having the kids is the wife, right?” He’d heard that part clearly.

“If you don’t want to, forget it. Don’t need you anyway.”

“Fine, fine! I’m your wife!” Xiya immediately adopted a fawning tone. As long as it involved Lei Jin, he didn’t care. It was just a title. After all, Lei Jin was the one bearing the cubs—he wasn’t losing out. He understood that principle.

“Then give one of the twins to his family for co-parenting,” Lei Jin finalized the decision. Co-parenting meant the child was still theirs; Qi Luo and Jia He would just help care for them when they were young, and when they grew old, the child would support them in return.

Xiya grinned. Although their family could easily raise the cubs without co-parenting, Qi Luo’s family needed it. He understood that, and he knew Lei Jin did too.

“One more time, just once more, okay?” They were about to leave the Tiger Tribe, passing by a shabby, low-fenced courtyard at a corner. Lei Jin stopped upon hearing the familiar voice.

“Are you never satisfied? Last night you said ‘once,’ and yet you pestered me half the night. Are you really that desperate to be fucked?” The other voice was rough and irritable.

“At most, I won’t ask tonight. Just once now?” the familiar voice bargained cautiously.

“Turn around. Take off your pants yourself. Hold onto the door.”

A brief silence fell inside. Lei Jin guessed they were undressing.

“Spread wider yourself. How else am I supposed to get in?” This was followed by loud slapping sounds.

“My hands are holding the door!” the familiar voice sounded aggrieved.

“Let’s go,” Xiya tugged Lei Jin’s sleeve, whispering. Lei Jin, however, was listening with rapt interest.

Soon, heavy, guttural panting and moans, punctuated by sharp cries, came from inside.

Lei Jin was about to turn away when he heard a loud crash and a yelp. The flimsy door gave way, and two figures tumbled out.

Rong Chuan lay face down, his buttocks covered in red handprints, with the werebeast’s member still lodged inside him.

Lei Jin tried to hold it in, but the scene was just too ludicrous. Finally, he managed to say, “Just pretend we’re not here. Carry on,” before burying his face in Xiya’s chest and laughing heartily, utterly unapologetic.

Xiya patted his back affectionately, helping him catch his breath.

The werebeast glanced at them, effortlessly picked up the tall Rong Chuan, and carried him back inside.

“Rong Chuan, I’m leaving tomorrow,” Lei Jin called out, still laughing. Over the years, he and Rong Chuan had accumulated quite a history. While they might never be friends, they probably weren’t enemies either.

“Bring Pomelo and Orange back to visit sometime.” Lei Jin, not expecting a reply, was already walking away but he turned back upon hearing this and saw Rong Chuan standing by the window.

“Alright,” Lei Jin agreed. Before he finished speaking, a thick arm reached out and dragged Rong Chuan away.

Lei Jin rubbed his chin and asked Xiya, “Could someone with my face really be that repulsive?”

Xiya: “…”

The corners of Lei Jin’s mouth lifted. He deliberately stirred the pot again, calling out, “Rong Chuan, thanks for your help these past three years!”

BANG! This time, the window slammed shut too.

Lei Jin laughed freely. He knew Rong Chuan probably didn’t actually like him. Four years ago, Rong Chuan would hit on any female. Over the past three years, it felt less like genuine affection and more like a desperate search for a permanent companion.

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

Truthfully, he didn’t particularly like Rong Chuan as a person either. But that didn’t mean he wished him a life of misery and eternal damnation.

This was fine.

“Let’s go,” Lei Jin patted Moya’s large head, signaling it was time.

On the early autumn morning, the sky was high and the clouds sparse. A breeze blew past, carrying a yellow leaf that landed in Lei Jin’s sleeve.

They were about to embark on the journey where the four of them had once met.

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With so many people, Hao Chen’s house naturally couldn’t accommodate everyone. Lei Jin suggested moving into the valley. There were plenty of caves there, cool and shaded. His stored food and essential tools were also there, so meals wouldn’t be a problem. Everyone else was also eager to see the place where he’d lived for three years. It was a perfect match.

Leaving the valley was easy; getting back in was hard. The large group roasted under the sun for most of the morning while Mingya searched fruitlessly for the entrance. Flying around the general area for ages, he found no trace of the valley. Roger paced at the foot of the mountain, picking up a few slightly blackened stones. After pondering for a while, he asked Lei Jin, “Are you sure it was that direction?”

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

“It shouldn’t be wrong.” It was near the river estuary. Mingya also nodded in confirmation.

Roger asked An Luo to carry him up high to survey the surrounding terrain. Landing, he said, not entirely certain, “Let’s rest in the shade first. We’ll come back to look this afternoon.”

Lei Jin didn’t understand the connection between the entrance and the time of day, but Roger’s eyes clearly held some knowledge.

The afternoon was sweltering, but the strange thing happened. As the werebeasts flew against the light, the sun shifted to a specific position. Instantly, a black valley appeared between two mountains. Had they not known in advance, they would have thought it an illusion.

Rong Chuan spotted the large group entering from afar. Fearing retribution from Lei Jin’s mates, he hid in his cave, not daring to show his face.

Everyone found caves, put down their belongings, cleaned them, and after dinner, retired to their respective caves to rest. Lei Jin noticed An Bu had a separate cave, not sharing with Roger, An Sen, and An Luo. He had thought the four had reconciled. Seems I was overthinking it.

Lei Jin rinsed off in the lake, casually drying himself. Just as he stepped onto the bank, before he could steady himself, someone grabbed his wrist and skillfully threw him onto the grassy shore. It didn’t hurt, but his mind blanked for a second. The kiss that followed was deep and fierce, biting and tearing at his lips. The faint taste of blood quickly spread in his mouth. The hands on him lacked their usual gentleness; his chest was kneaded and pinched, sharp pain radiating. Yet, arousal flared just as intensely.

“Bastard! Xiya, you—” Lei Jin managed to curse as soon as his lips were freed.

Xiya lifted himself slightly, his face expressionless. As Lei Jin’s eyes adjusted to the dark, he saw the feral light in Xiya’s eyes. His heart skipped a beat. Even in their most intense moments before, there had always been restraint. But now, Xiya seemed like an unbridled beast, driven only by primal lust.

Xiya’s large hand slid down his thigh. Lei Jin didn’t know why, but this time, he didn’t want it at all, despite the lingering tingles of arousal.

“Get off, Xiya! Don’t touch me!” He was fine during the day; why go crazy at night?

Xiya gave a low laugh, but to Lei Jin, the smile felt alien and cold.

Something is really wrong. Did something truly irreparable happen in these three years?

Xiya pinned Lei Jin’s struggling body. Fingers probed roughly inside, stretching him briefly. A knee forced one leg open. Without any soothing foreplay, Xiya thrust his hips, driving deep into the tight passage.

“Ah!” Lei Jin couldn’t suppress a cry of pain.

Hearing it, Xiya paused briefly, but soon resumed his forceful invasion.

Lei Jin trembled, shuddering under the violent intrusion inside him.

Pain and pleasure warred and accumulated.

“I may have stolen you from Moya, or tricked you away from him… but now, we have children. Don’t think I’ll ever let you go. Never, not even in death. From now on, I’ll watch you. I’ll never let you leave for so long again.” Xiya repeated these words over and over as he moved.

For three years, he had constantly told himself Lei Jin couldn’t have left. But it had been too long. On the surface, he pretended nonchalance, confidently reassuring Moya and Mingya they’d find him. Even today in front of everyone, he hadn’t lost control. But deep down, only he knew his patience had worn dangerously thin. If they hadn’t found him soon, he didn’t know how much longer he could hold on. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Lei Jin lying wounded and alone in some unknown place. Lei Jin never liked him anyway; he wouldn’t miss him even if he died.

“Xiya, this is what you’ve always thought?” Lei Jin wasn’t particularly perceptive, but he’d vaguely sensed it. He just never thought Xiya would actually say it out loud.

Xiya opened his mouth, unsure what to say, turning his face away in slight shame.

Lei Jin grabbed his hair and pulled him back. If I’m hurting, you won’t feel good either. His gaze was cool as he stared at him. “If it had been Moya and me who disappeared together this time, would you have assumed I chose to leave with him?”

“You always liked him better, didn’t you?” That was a fact everyone knew.

“Yes. So you shouldn’t have provoked me in the first place. Without you, Moya and I would be living well.” Seeming to imagine that pleasant life with just Moya, a touch of warmth appeared on Lei Jin’s face as he lightly curved his lips.

“I couldn’t do it.” Xiya gripped Lei Jin’s waist tighter, pushing in another fraction.

“Well, expecting me to return your feelings equally is something I can’t do.” Lei Jin scoffed, the hardness still deeply embedded within him making the discussion feel bizarrely novel in this position. 

“I never expected equal treatment, or to be the most important. I know I can’t keep you. But now, with Pomelo and Orange…”

“If I didn’t want you, having children wouldn’t change that. If I left, I’d take them with me. I wouldn’t leave them for you.” Harsh, but true. “Back in the Tiger Tribe, did you really think your little schemes escaped me?” Maybe he hadn’t noticed at first, lost in his despair over his injuries. But after so long, did Xiya truly believe he was oblivious? He didn’t deny genuine feelings existed, but deliberately playing the victim, lowering himself—wasn’t it all to soften Lei Jin’s heart? As Xiya wished, he had softened and accepted. But Xiya remained perpetually insecure about this stolen affection, and Grapes’ birth had only intensified it. That’s why Xiya had always been the one most desperate for a child.

“You mean… you also have feelings for me…?” Xiya was too excited to speak coherently. This was the first time Lei Jin had acknowledged any affection for him.

“It’s exactly what you think.” They have been separated for three years, it was time to give him reassurance, but along with this answer was Lei Jin’s hard punch to Xiya’s jaw, no matter what the reason was, forcing him could not be forgiven.

Xiya uncaringly slipped the tip of his tongue out to lick the corner of his bleeding mouth. He was glad, this was the Lei Jin he knew, always stubborn, unwilling to easily compromise, so when a person like him admitted that he really returned his own feelings, he could finally rest assured.

“But it’s been three years. I have thought about you so much that it hurts.” Once reassured, his usual playful smile resurfaced. He rolled the two of them while still remaining connected, and held Lei Jin on top of him, his hips driving upwards.

But Lei Jin wasn’t a pushover, and knowing that Xiya cared about keeping face, he picked the most visible places to hit. The two of them rolled around on the grass for the first time in three years, ending with Xiya being beaten to a swollen pulp, although he was quite proud of himself before he got kicked out of the house.

“When did you get here?” Lei Jin lay sprawled on the ground, limbs like jelly, too tired to move.

Moya helped him put his clothes back on and sat beside him. “A while ago.” He didn’t deny he’d been present earlier.

Lei Jin raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He just shifted, resting his head on Moya’s lap, and closed his eyes.

“Sleepy?”

Lei Jin felt Moya’s fingertips press gently against his temples, massaging his scalp.

“Can’t sleep.” Lei Jin turned over, wrapping his arms around Moya’s lower back. He probably didn’t realize it was an extremely dependent posture.

Moya seemed to be laughing. Lei Jin felt the tremor against his cheek where it rested on Moya’s abdomen.

“Then let’s walk around the valley. The moonlight looks lovely tonight.”

“Now?” It was the middle of the night. Moya certainly had a sense of romance.

“You can’t sleep, right?” Moya pointed out the obvious.

“But I have no energy.” Half true, half because he just wanted to lie there like this, as he’d imagined countless times over the years.

“I’ll carry you. Feels like it’s been forever since I carried you.” Moya touched the hair Lei Jin had hacked short himself. He’d noticed it immediately upon seeing him—uneven, truly ugly. He hadn’t been able to stop himself from wanting to laugh then.

“Alright.” Lei Jin agreed reluctantly.

“You’ve lost weight.” Moya hefted him slightly.

“You don’t understand. This is called ‘lean muscle’ now.” Lei Jin rolled up his sleeve and shoved his arm in front of Moya. “See? Before it was flab. Now it’s muscle.”

“What chicken meat?” More of those words he doesn’t understand. (TN: ‘muscle’ in Chinese sound like ‘chicken meat’)

“And I say pig meat? Told you you wouldn’t get it.” Lei Jin wanted to roll his eyes but remembered Moya couldn’t see them and gave up.

Having lived in this valley for three years, Lei Jin knew every corner intimately, even where the bird nests were. As they walked, he pointed things out to Moya: here he’d smoked out a rabbit warren; there grew fat-ear plants that sprouted wildly in spring, delicious dried and steamed with braised pork…

Moya listened quietly, nodding occasionally, interjecting a question or two.

“These three years must have been hard?” Though Lei Jin deliberately avoided mentioning it, it was easy to imagine how difficult life must have been for a female trapped in this deserted valley with two newborn infants.

Lei Jin stopped talking. He pressed his face against Moya’s back and sighed inwardly. “Exhausting.” To others, he could pretend everything was fine. Only with Moya did his defenses crumble, revealing his true feelings. No food. The newborns starving, curled up and wailing. His leg broken, unable to walk. Rong Chuan constantly lurking, a threat. At the worst times, he could only crawl to the cave entrance, cupping rainwater in his hands to feed the babies. Looking back now, he didn’t know how he’d endured it.

“It’s our fault. We left you but didn’t protect you.” But what use were these words now?

“No.” Since their reunion today, he’d sensed Moya’s smiles didn’t reach his eyes. Now, his mood was especially low. “This time was my own carelessness.” He had to take responsibility for his own mistakes. Even if they lived together in the future, he wanted to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them, not be constantly protected as the weaker one.

“Let’s not talk about this. Summer days are short; dawn will come soon. Let’s head back.” Unconsciously, they had walked quite far.

“Wait. Keep going straight. See that small hole in the rock face?” Lei Jin patted Moya’s shoulder, smiling.

“See it. What about it?” About the size of a bowl. What could it be for?

“Good stuff to eat.” Lei Jin urged him to hurry.

Lei Jin reached in and pulled out a leaf-wrapped package. Opening it, he ate one first, smacking his lips appreciatively. “Still nice and crispy. Try one.”

Moya hadn’t even seen what it was before Lei Jin stuffed it into his mouth.

“How is it? Good?” Lei Jin asked expectantly.

“Not bad. A bit salty,” Moyu answered truthfully.

“That’s why I hid it here! If I left it near our cave, those two little rascals would have found and eaten it all ages ago. I remember Healer Qing Qiao said kids shouldn’t eat too much preserved stuff.”

Moya chuckled. It was surprising he remembered that. Qing Qiao had droned on incessantly at home back then; Lei Jin had looked thoroughly impatient. “What is this? Tastes good.”

“Cicada pupae. Dug them out of the ground. Salted and pickled, then deep-fried. When I was a kid, I was an expert at finding these.” Lei Jin was quite proud. He munched on one himself, popping another into Moya’s mouth. Over the years, he’d tried every edible thing in the valley. Compared to rotten leaves, this was truly a rare delicacy.

“Dawn’s really breaking now.” Leaning together, talking and eating, their clothes were damp with night dew.

Lei Jin yawned in Moya’s arms. “By the way, did the three little ones sleep with Mingya last night?”

“When I left, Pomelo and Orange had just finished bathing and were trying to drag Grapes over to the hearth fire to dry their fur.” Moya said, suppressing a laugh.

“Bet Grapes beat them up again. Serves them right.” He wasn’t worried. Fight away! Fighting builds affection.

“Let’s pick some lotus seed pods. We’ll make lotus seed porridge for them. You guys should try something fresh too.” He’d saved plenty of lotus seeds. They could dig a pond at home to plant them.

When they returned with an armful of lotus seed pods, everyone except the children was already up. An Luo and the others were grilling meat. Lei Jin gathered everyone. The werebeasts, with their rough hands, were tasked with shelling the lotus seeds. He and Roger removed the bitter green hearts. With so many hands, they soon had a pile of plump, white seeds. Cooked until soft and glutinous, the lotus seed porridge filled the pot. On top were savory mixed-vegetable pastries with minced meat. Except for Lei Jin and Moya, who had secretly shared a large bag of cicada pupae, everyone else ate heartily.

In the afternoon, Berg and Hao Chen’s family arrived. Rong Chuan’s papa heard about it and came to plead with Hao Chen, hoping they could return to the tribe. He spoke incessantly of how well they’d treated Lei Jin over the years, omitting everything else. Lei Jin interjected a few good words; they had helped him, after all. However, Kun Ge couldn’t agree outright. Rong Chuan had been expelled by unanimous tribal decision. Unless Rong Chuan found a mate—something that would reassure everyone—there might be room for negotiation. Jing Yue agreed to inquire back at the tribe. Lei Jin specifically advised him to find a werebeast companion for Rong Chuan—partly out of mischief, partly because Rong Chuan was impotent with females anyway. Later, Jing Yue brought back good news. The tribe had taken in a wandering werebeast a few years back. Though strong and powerful, his appearance was marred by a scar running across his right cheek, said to be quite frightening. Females in the tribe feared him, so naturally, no one had become his mate. He knew Rong Chuan and, remarkably, didn’t mind his condition. He was willing to form a werebeast companion bond—a “brotherhood” union—with Rong Chuan.

Rong Chuan’s papa was initially reluctant. But considering Rong Chuan’s physical limitations, he eventually agreed. Rong Chuan himself was thrilled at first about returning and Lei Jin not crippling him. But when he learned he was being paired with a werebeast mate, he flatly refused. Lei Jin thought the deal was off. Unexpectedly, a few days later, Rong Chuan came back and agreed.

Lei Jin later met the werebeast. Perhaps due to long-term survival in the wild, he was exceptionally strong. Though the scar wasn’t pretty, Lei Jin found it quite distinctive and manly. He praised him enthusiastically at home for several days, much to Xiya and the others’ chagrin.

Roger pulled Lei Jin aside, leaving the others. They walked along the valley for a long time, Roger frequently stopping to examine things closely.

“Roger, what are you looking for?” Ever since entering the valley, Lei Jin had noticed Roger seemed preoccupied. He’d just forgotten to ask amidst the busyness.

“Do you remember how I told you I came to this world?” Roger asked.

“You said you discovered some ruin, took shelter from the rain, and ended up here.” He remembered that clearly.

Roger nodded. “Exactly. This is that place.”

Lei Jin walked with his hands clasped behind his back, his usual casual air. “Meaning?”

“I’m saying the ruin we discovered back then… is this place.”

“Joking? You said there were murals and stuff inside. There’s nothing like that here.” He knew this place inside out.

“I know. I’ve looked everywhere these past few days. But the layout and structure are unmistakably the same. More importantly, these black stones—don’t you think they resemble the black jade stone you carried when you left? I suspect our inability to find this valley before was due to these stones. Back then, we only discovered the ruin because of an accidental aerial photograph taken by a plane. The photo was taken precisely at two o’clock in the afternoon.”

“And then?” What was Roger really getting at?

“The day we entered, I estimated the time by the sun. Mingya and the others also found traces of the valley around two in the afternoon. Could that also be a coincidence?”

“That doesn’t prove anything. I didn’t go to school much, but I know there’s no historical record of a ‘Werebeast Era’.”

“Unknown doesn’t mean it didn’t exist. The universe holds too many secrets humanity hasn’t uncovered yet.” That had once been his life’s work. He didn’t have Lei Jin’s boundless energy to thrive anywhere. He’d just wanted to pursue his research quietly.

“Maybe you’re right.” Lei Jin agreed insincerely. He didn’t want to argue; Roger’s expression wasn’t good.

Roger’s expression remained faint. “Lei Jin, did you… go back then?” He hadn’t dared to ask before.

“I don’t know. It just felt like a very real dream.”

“What did you dream?” Roger pressed.

“I dreamed I went back. And I dreamed… your father passed away. I gave your pocket watch to someone named Joey.” He had sent some people to check the place Roger mentioned back then. That man named Joey had actually pursued them and eventually found his way to him.

“At least it returned to its rightful owner. Father’s health wasn’t good later; I expected it.”

“There really is a Joey?” Lei Jin’s eyes widened. So I really did go back?

Roger nodded. “Joey was my father’s student. He was also the financial backer for that ruin excavation.”

Judging by your expression, it wasn’t that simple. Lei Jin thought.

“Lei Jin, come walk here with me more often in the future, will you?” Roger picked up a stone and threw it far into the lake, suddenly speaking loudly.

“Come back for what?” Could this place also trigger time-space shifts?

Roger smiled mysteriously, saying nothing more. But his eyes shone with an unprecedented brilliance.

As long as Roger is happy. Some things didn’t need exhaustive answers. Lei Jin deliberately changed the subject. “Take the three little ones back first the day after tomorrow. Xiya and the others are taking me to the forbidden land.”

“What do you want to do now?” Roger asked, concerned.

“I’m going to dig up some crystal. To build a house.” Lei Jin said lightly.

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

Roger looked puzzled. How had the topic jumped to building a house?

Lei Jin glanced back at the six figures splashing and playing in the lake to cool off. He said with utmost seriousness, “I’m not young anymore. It’s time to build a house and take a wife.”

Three years ago, they had asked countless times. He’d felt that being together didn’t necessarily require formalizing it with bonds that might constrain them. After three years apart, they’d remained so faithful and obedient; the likelihood of them changing now seemed small. Thinking about it now, confirming his ownership didn’t sound so bad after all.

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Afraid of missing them, Lei Jin scrambled to his feet and called out in response, ready to run outside. But as soon as he took a step, his clothes were grabbed from behind.

“Don’t go!” Rong Chuan refused to let go. Over the past three years, they had fought countless times, large and small. It was always him provoking Lei Jin, only to be subdued by Lei Jin and forced to leave in frustration. But back then, he always held onto hope, thinking maybe next time. This time, he knew that if he let go, Lei Jin would truly leave, and he would never see him again.

“Looks like you’re forcing me to kill you?” Lei Jin thought. I overestimated the drug’s potency. Rong Chuan could still lift his hand. Maybe it was because he’d been flustered earlier and missed the target. But it didn’t matter now. Mingya was here; he wasn’t worried.

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“At most… I won’t force you anymore. Can you stay?” Rong Chuan’s tone softened. The valley was far too quiet. He didn’t want to go back to those days with only himself and his papa.

“No.” Lei Jin wasn’t a soft-hearted person. Though he sometimes felt a flicker of pity for Rong Chuan, it wasn’t enough to sacrifice himself.

“What are you—” Before Lei Jin could see how Mingya entered, he felt the grip on him loosen. Rong Chuan’s hand had been forcefully slapped away.

“Lei Jin! Lei Jin…” Mingya’s hands fumbled over his own clothes, his eyes wide and slightly panicked as he stared at the person before him. Three years apart, he didn’t seem to have changed much—just thinner and darker. But his scent and smile were still familiar. Mingya stared until his vision blurred, hardly daring to believe he’d really found him.

“Little dummy, still crying so easily?” Lei Jin saw he’d grown taller, probably as tall as Xiya and Moya now. But his eyes remained clear, still holding a childlike mix of delight and panic. Feeling a pang of tenderness, Lei Jin opened his arms. “Come here.”

Mingya immediately rushed forward and tightly wrapped his arms around Lei Jin, choking out, “Mingya finally found you! Have you been here all these three years? I thought about you hard every single day.”

Lei Jin patted his back, emotions swelling within him. They held each other quietly for a moment. Then Lei Jin asked, “Is your leg better?” That had been a constant worry. He tried to lift his hand to wipe the warm wetness from his face but found he couldn’t move.

“It’s not much of a problem anymore.” Mingya mumbled into Lei Jin’s shoulder.

Hearing that, Lei Jin knew it hadn’t been completely cured. Chunji had said a full recovery was impossible.

“Let go. Walk a few steps. Let me see.” He needed to see the extent of the recovery himself.

Mingya blinked away tears, a happy smile spreading across his face. He obediently walked back and forth in front of Lei Jin. He seemed to walk normally now.

“Does your leg still hurt?” Lei Jin pressed.

“Not really. Just a bit achy on rainy days. Second Brother helps massage it. Papa says as long as I don’t walk too fast, no one can tell. I go on hunts now too! I can catch lots of prey! I can even carry Grapes flying all the way here to the Tiger Tribe, and it doesn’t feel tiring at all…” Mingya rambled on, his point clear: Don’t worry about me.

Lei Jin understood. Recovering to this level was already beyond his expectations. He cut him off with a smile, “Alright, I get it.”

“Um, Lei Jin… this is… I dried these grapes myself. I planted lots of vines in our yard.” Mingya said, pulling a black, sticky lump from his pocket.

Lei Jin burst out laughing. “Are these… raisins?”

“They seem to have melted. Stuck together.” Mingya held the lump awkwardly, embarrassed. He’d carried these raisins with him ever since Bubbles returned saying he’d seen Lei Jin. He just hadn’t expected to wait over half a month.

Rong Chuan snorted derisively. “What kind of rotten stuff is that? Embarrassing! A werebeast, yet crying all the time.”

“Let me taste.” Lei Jin broke off a small piece and tossed it into his mouth.

“You can’t eat that, Lei Jin!” Mingya threw the lump in his hand away and tried to grab the piece from Lei Jin’s mouth.

It truly tasted awful. No grape flavor at all—sour, astringent, and carrying a distinct sweat smell. It was the worst thing Lei Jin had ever tasted. But under Mingya’s anxious gaze, he swallowed it with effort.

“Don’t eat it! Don’t! There are plenty more at home…” Mingya’s words were cut off by a cool, soft touch on his lips.

Idiot. No improvement at all. Lei Jin cursed inwardly but bit Mingya’s lip lightly in dissatisfaction before his tongue actively sought entry.

Encouraged, Mingya cupped the back of Lei Jin’s head and deepened the kiss passionately.

This was the Mingya he liked. Someone who could laugh, who could cry, without too much pretense. Just happily foolish, forever.

Watching them kiss passionately right in front of him, Rong Chuan was furious, smoke practically rising from his head. Paralyzed, he could only grind his teeth in helpless rage.

Lei Jin shot him a challenging glance. After the kiss ended, he wiped the tears from Mingya’s eyes. “Alright, no more crying now. If Pomelo and Orange see you, they’ll laugh.”

“Pomelo and Orange?” Mingya looked puzzled, then his face lit up with realization and joy. “The two babies in your belly?” He remembered Eldest Brother and Second Brother mentioning Lei Jin had been carrying twins.

“Didn’t Bubbles tell you?”

“No. After he came back, he just kept repeating one sentence: ‘Afternoon. Valley west of the coast. Follow the werebeast in.’ He seemed terrified he’d forget it.”

Lei Jin looked at him, paused, and said, “The children are Xiya’s.” He didn’t want Mingya to mistakenly think they were his.

But Mingya seemed not to register the implication at all. He just asked eagerly, “Are they females or werebeast babies?”

“Two little werebeast boys.” Lei Jin answered truthfully.

“Two golden werebeast babies? They must be beautiful! Where are they?” Mingya’s excitement didn’t diminish.

Lei Jin’s smile deepened. He took Mingya’s hand. “Probably out hunting. I’ll take you to find them.”

“Huh? Three-year-old babies that hunt?” When he was three, he remembered still liking to cling to his papa.

“Yeah, sort of. Come on, I’ll show you.” Lei Jin had seen it a few times. The little ones didn’t directly pounce and kill prey. Instead, they chased it relentlessly until the animal was exhausted, then jumped on it, pressing it down until it fainted, and finally dragged the unconscious prey home. The first time he witnessed it, he nearly laughed himself silly.

“Hey, Lei Jin!” Seeing them about to leave, Rong Chuan hastily called out.

“Lei Jin is Mingya’s mate. You’re not allowed to call him that!” Mingya turned back, glaring at Rong Chuan with unexpected fierceness.

“You… you too?” Rong Chuan was stunned. He’d only seen that Xiya guy. Now here was another one, Mingya. He couldn’t help but ask, “Lei Jin, how many werebeast mates do you actually have?”

“Three.” Lei Jin held up three fingers. He was open and unabashed. Rong Chuan’s face paled. Once Lei Jin is found, won’t his mates beat me to death?

Lei Jin wasn’t finished with him. As he was leaving, he gave Rong Chuan a meaningful once-over, looking meaningful. “So… where should we cripple you this time? Your hands? Or your feet?”

Rong Chuan’s hands and feet instantly turned icy cold.

Leaving most belongings behind, Mingya carried Lei Jin and the two little ones out of the valley they’d lived in for three years. The moment they flew free, Lei Jin exhaled a long breath. Looking down in the moonlight, the valley below was pitch black, showing no trace.

They went to the coast first to meet Berg, who was still waiting for news. After agreeing to meet up tomorrow, they parted ways.

It was nearly midnight when they reached the tribe. The weather was hot; a few people were still cooling off on the streets. Everyone at Hao Chen’s house was asleep. Mingya opened the door quietly, but Kun Ge heard the noise. “Mingya? Is that you?” he called through the window.

Mingya tried to suppress his voice, but his joy was palpable. “Mingya’s back. Lei Jin and the two babies are back too!”

A gasp was heard. Hao Chen ran out barefoot. Seeing Mingya searching the coast for Lei Jin for over half a month, he’d thought it was another false hope. He hadn’t expected them to actually succeed.

The family reunion was naturally filled with joy. Hao Chen asked many questions. Lei Jin briefly mentioned his experiences over the past three years, saying everything was fine, just that he couldn’t get out.

“By the way, have you eaten? Papa will make you something. I’ll heat some water for you to wash up. Get some sleep and rest.”

“We ate, Papa. Don’t trouble yourself.” They’d cooked some meat soup while packing.

“Ol’ Dad…” Orange woke up in Mingya’s arms, rubbed his stomach, and looked pleadingly at Lei Jin. Pomelo did the same.

Lei Jin glared at them subtly. The two pressed their lips together, saying nothing.

Hao Chen smiled. “Are these the two little ones? Ignore your papa. Grandpa will take you to eat. Little kids get hungry easily. You know that; why make it hard for them?” The last part was directed at Lei Jin.

The two little ones were shy, clinging to Mingya and refusing to come down. Just then, a small figure rushed out of the adjacent room, threw himself at Mingya, and looked up fiercely. “Get down! Off my Youngest Dad!”

“Grapes! You finally spoke! But they’re your little brothers! Grapes’ little brothers!” Mingya said.

“No, they’re not! I don’t know them!”

Lei Jin hadn’t taken his eyes off Grapes since he appeared. This was the child he’d missed most. Back then, he couldn’t even walk. Now he could run, jump, and bare his little claws.

“Grapes, I’m Dada. Do you remember me?” Lei Jin picked him up.

Grapes finally looked at him with red-rimmed eyes. He’d heard it from Bubbles, but he still kicked his little feet, shouting, “I hate you! You left me! I hate you!” Yet his hands clung tightly to Lei Jin’s neck, refusing to let go.

Stinky kid, what a strong grip. Lei Jin was nearly choked. Just as he tried to gently pry the little hands loose, Grapes let out a loud “WAAAAH!” He bawled while screaming at the top of his lungs, “If you dare leave me, I’ll cry! If you dare leave me, I’ll cry!”

Lei Jin was speechless. Without me around, they’ve raised a little rascal! The others watching were both moved and amused.

“Brother Grapes! Brother Grapes…” Before bedtime, the two little ones circled Grapes, trying to be friendly.

Grapes covered his ears and turned his back, pretending not to hear. They stole Dada! Won’t talk to them!

Lei Jin came out after his bath and understood the situation. But Grapes was also a child. You couldn’t force this. It would have to happen naturally.

“Ol’ Dad! Ol’ Dad!” Pomelo and Orange scrambled into Lei Jin’s arms the moment he got into bed.

Lei Jin hugged them close, kissing each in turn. He knew they’d been scared today. Born in the valley, they’d seen few people. Suddenly encountering so many was overwhelming. And the only one they knew, Brother Grapes, wouldn’t acknowledge them.

“Dada, kiss me!” Grapes also squeezed over, pouting his lips.

Lei Jin gave a helpless smile to Mingya, who had just entered. How are we sleeping tonight? He had three clinging to him.

“Grapes, sleep with Youngest Dad, okay?” Mingya, picking up the hint, offered a solution.

“I know I should let my younger brothers… but I haven’t slept with Dada in so long either.” His words sounded innocent, but his bright green eyes held a tiny spark of mischief.

Lei Jin’s heart softened instantly. Even if Pomelo and Orange misbehaved, he could spank them. But this child… even knowing he was pretending, Lei Jin couldn’t refuse.

“Alright, alright. All sleep together.” He resigned himself to exhaustion. Who made them all? He did. He thought wryly.

Grapes took the opportunity to push his little brothers further away, wrapping his arms and legs tightly around Lei Jin, satisfied.

Years of vigilance had left him a light sleeper. Even exhausted, he woke instantly when he felt someone loosening his clothes. Instinctively, Lei Jin reached for his knife.

“Lei Jin, it’s me. Mingya.” Mingya gently pushed the blade away from his neck.

Realizing he wasn’t in the valley and Rong Chuan wasn’t nearby, Lei Jin relaxed. “I’m a bit tired today. Another time,” he said.

Mingya realized Lei Jin had misunderstood. He stammered an explanation, “N-no, I wasn’t… Mingya wanted to check your wounds. I got medicine from Uncle Hao Chen.” He’d seen the numerous small cuts and some lingering redness while Lei Jin bathed.

Lei Jin replied dismissively, “It’s fine. Almost healed.” No life-threatening wounds; he didn’t care much. Besides, scars on a man were a badge of honor.

“Let Mingya look.” Mingya pleaded softly.

Lei Jin rolled his eyes but good-naturedly sprawled out. “Look all you want. I’m going to sleep.”

Mingya nodded eagerly, gathering Lei Jin into his arms and carefully removing all his clothes.

Lei Jin tried to ignore it, but Mingya’s hands, palms slightly calloused, roamed over his body, rubbing and massaging. Falling asleep was impossible. He shifted his attention to the three children beside him. Grapes slept naked. Perhaps due to his constitution, his body always felt slightly cool. Pomelo and Orange, at some point, had tangled themselves around him, all eight limbs clinging. The three were a cozy, intertwined pile, sleeping soundly.

Watching them, Lei Jin’s eyelids grew heavy. Nestled in Mingya’s embrace, he drifted off. When he woke, it was mid-morning. Berg, Jing Yue, and others had arrived and were chatting in the courtyard.

Jing Yue and Mu Yue had a one-year-old werebeast boy named Maidong, who couldn’t shift yet—a very imposing little tiger. He was currently pestering Grapes to take him out to play.

Grapes held Bubbles’ hand, looking reluctant but finally agreeing with a small frown.

“Brother Grapes! Brother Grapes…” The two little ones wagged their tails eagerly, wanting to follow.

“You two, stay here!” These annoying pests slept holding me last night and drooled on me!

“Grapes, they’re your little brothers,” Bubbles interceded. He quite liked these little brothers.

“Brother Bubbles!” The two little ones immediately beamed, switching targets.

“Grapes…” Bubbles pleaded for them.

“Fine! Fine!” Grapes agreed with exaggerated exasperation.

The two little ones happily shifted into human form and stretched out their small hands towards Grapes.

“I hate you two the most.” Grapes grumbled but took their hands. He told Bubbles, “You take Maidong.”

The group of five marched out grandly. With only children, it wasn’t safe. Mu Yue instructed Jing Yue to follow them. He then plunged back into the kitchen with Hao Chen and Jing Ping to prepare lunch.

Mingya held Lei Jin’s fingers, carefully trimming his nails with a small knife.

Lei Jin looked Berg up and down, his gaze finally settling on his belly. He grinned mischievously. “You seem… plump.”

Berg started, instinctively tugging at his loose waistband. He pretended not to understand, spitting out, “You never have any sense of propriety!”

Lei Jin had only been guessing, but Berg’s flustered reaction confirmed it. He deliberately asked, “Haven’t seen Lan Qi in ages. How is he?”

Berg still insisted, “How would I know? We’re not involved.” Under Lei Jin’s knowing gaze, he felt guilty and pretended to sip water. I was too adamant back then. How can I admit it to Lei Jin now?

Lei Jin didn’t expose the lie. He leaned lazily back into Mingya’s embrace and continued casually, “Oh? Then whose seed is that in your belly?”

Mingya froze at the bluntness. Berg fared worse. Underestimating Lei Jin’s vulgar mouth, he choked violently on his water, coughing uncontrollably. He wished he could pounce and bite this menace to death. Why was I so worried when he disappeared? Why did I spend half a month baking on the coast? My brain must have been broken!

Mingya held Lei Jin protectively, afraid Berg might strike. He tried to change the subject. “Um… Berg was the one who came and told me Bubbles had seen you. I sent word home with a Feather tribesman. Eldest Brother and Second Brother should be here soon.”

Lei Jin squeezed his hand in acknowledgment.

Berg didn’t want Lei Jin focusing on his belly—who knew what he’d say next? He steered back to the pressing question. “Mingya told me the gist. But we searched all those places back then. Why didn’t we find that valley?”

Lei Jin was also puzzled. He knew something was strange but couldn’t pinpoint it. He only knew Rong Chuan left periodically, always returning in the afternoon from the southeast corner. He’d listened carefully; the faint sound of waves came from that direction, meaning it was close to the sea. That’s why he’d told Bubbles to relay the message: find the valley west of the coast.

“I didn’t find it. I sneaked in following that werebeast,” Mingya confessed.

“I guessed.” That’s why, after Mingya didn’t come, he’d tricked Rong Chuan into leaving.

“What was it like inside?” Berg was curious.

“Just a regular valley. Everything but the rocks was black.” Over three years, he’d explored most of it and found nothing special. “Forget it. We’re out now. No point dwelling on what we can’t understand.” He never wasted brain cells on unnecessary things.

“You seem to have thrived these years. You look even more spirited.”

Lei Jin withdrew his neatly trimmed right hand and automatically offered his left to Mingya. A relaxed smile played on his lips. “Had a live-in sparring partner every day. Couldn’t let that go to waste.” That first year in this world, injuries and childbirth had seemed to sap his vitality, leaving him prone to minor illnesses. These past three years, though hard, had been peaceful. Constant vigilance against Rong Chuan had kept him physically sharp. He felt much stronger.

“Gently, ah… Mingya… Gently…” After three years of not seeing each other, Mingya’s body had become much stronger, gradually getting rid of the immaturity of a youth and starting to have the hardness of an adult.

Lei Jin half-lay on the bed, feeling Mingya’s lower abdomen against his buttocks and pushing to the deepest part. At first, there was no lubrication, and it was a little difficult and painful to go in and out, but once he got used to it, Mingya began to bury himself completely and move fiercely.

“Lei Jin, you are so hot and tight inside…”

The moist and warm breath sprayed behind his sensitive ears, and Lei Jin trembled as he endured the thrusts within his body.

Mingya held his waist and changed his position. Spreading his legs while face to face, he rushed in again.

“Ah…” Lei Jin exclaimed, but when he saw the sleeping child beside him, he immediately covered his mouth tightly.

Don’t know how many positions they had gone through tonight.

“That’s about it… Mingya…” Lei Jin finally couldn’t help wanting to curse, panting and pounding Mingya’s back, his waist almost broke. He lifted his stiff legs, now deeply realizing the age gap, no matter how good his body was, he couldn’t compare to the three werebeasts who were young and strong, with unlimited energy.

Mingya held his legs and pressed forward, the two sweaty and hot bodies connected and overlapped, both finding release together. As he relaxed, Lei Jin yawned.

“Will there be Mingya’s baby here in the future?” Mingya gently touched Lei Jin’s firm and flat belly.

“En.” Lei Jin answered vaguely in a semi-drowsy state.

Mingya kissed the corner of his mouth and smiled. “It doesn’t matter, don’t worry, if not, Mingya will still like you.” This was the female he found first, and now he was back in his arms.

Lei Jin knew that Xiya and Moya would come, but he didn’t expect that Roger, An Sen and An Luo would also come. Of course, the most unexpected one was An Bu. He was like a spinning top, and was hugged by everyone non-stop since they met. Even An Luo, who was always the least talkative, hugged him gently and said, “Finally, you’re back.”

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

Xiya and Moya were at the end of the line, and they almost broke his waist. When he expressed this, they even tried to reach out to untie his clothes and check it out themselves, but Lei Jin slapped them away and gave them a big eye roll, saying, “Don’t take advantage.” But he had a relieved smile on his face. He hadn’t seen them for three years, and they hadn’t changed. It was good to know that they had good vision.

“By the way, where are the children?” Xiya saw that Lei Jin was safe and sound, so he remembered to ask this.

Lei Jin pointed to the two little guys under the tree, who were repeatedly pushed away by Grapes but still unwilling to give up, and said, “There, your sons.” Later thinking back, he didn’t seem to have seen Xiya smile so happily. At that moment, he suddenly felt fortunate that the two children were Xiya’s.

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