In the height of summer, the valley was perpetually cloaked in dense, humid greenery. Lei Jin had to set out early every morning, walking long distances to forage for food. Though the valley was large, edible resources were scarce. The two little ones’ appetites grew daily, and Lei Jin also needed to stockpile provisions for emergencies. Unless it rained, there was no day he could afford to be lazy. Although Rong Chuan had offered many times to share his family’s hunted game, Lei Jin felt that as a grown man with hands and feet, he hadn’t yet reached the point of needing support from unrelated people.

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

Rong Chuan’s papa had lived in the valley for nearly four years. Growing older and lacking companionship, he had gradually come to accept that Rong Chuan might never father children. Consequently, he treated the two clever, mischievous little ones quite well, often sending over fruits or sewing small clothes for them. So when Lei Jin went out, he usually entrusted the two little ones to his care, never forgetting to reciprocate with tasty dishes each time.

“Come inside quickly. The morning breeze is chilly; don’t catch a cold.” Rong Chuan’s papa sat on a rock by the cave entrance weaving a wicker basket. Seeing Lei Jin bring the children over, he hurriedly rose to greet them.

“Ol’ Dad, come back early.” As Lei Jin set them down, Pomelo rubbed his sleepy eyes, forcing them open a slit. Orange remained sound asleep throughout, not stirring at all.

Lei Jin softly acknowledged, then continued, “Watch your younger brother here, listen to Grandpa. Your ol’ Dad will be back mid-afternoon.” But judging by Pomelo’s drowsy state, it was unclear if he heard.

“Why are they so sleepy? A pair of little lazy pigs.” Lei Jin chuckled, pinching their little noses before standing up.

“All children are like this. Sleeping a lot helps their little bones grow strong and sturdy. Rong Chuan was just the same when he was little. Sometimes he’d sleep a whole day…”

“Uncle, these two packets are steamed meat I made this morning. One is for you to try, the other is their lunch.” After three years of interaction, Lei Jin had heard Rong Chuan’s childhood stories at least eight, if not ten, times. Humoring him to pass the time was one thing, but now, busy as he was, he had no leisure for it. Getting away was the priority.

Rong Chuan’s papa sighed habitually, holding onto Lei Jin’s hand and returning to his old refrain. “Lei Jin, I know Rong Chuan wronged you before, and you don’t like him. But look, it’s been three years now, and he treats you well. He’s strong, can hunt plenty of game. Why should you, a female, wear yourself out like this? Besides, even if you long for your mate… you can’t get out. It’s not that I want to say it, but that’s the reality.”

You might not want to say it, but I didn’t ask you to either. I wish you’d stop bringing it up someday. Lei Jin felt a surge of impatience. But this man could still somewhat rein in Rong Chuan and treated him decently. Lei Jin didn’t want to sever ties. So he forced his acting skills to new heights, effortlessly slipping into an expression of deep devotion, “Uncle, Rong Chuan is fine in every way. It’s just… I still can’t forget the father of Pomelo and Orange.” This excuse had worked better in the first two years; recently, it was losing its effectiveness. But he’d drag it out one day at a time.

With that, he turned and left. He wasn’t oblivious to Rong Chuan hiding nearby. Dodged another one today. Lei Jin cheered inwardly, unconcerned, as he slung the basket resting outside onto his back.

Lei Jin looked up at the sky. The sun hadn’t risen yet, but dawn had broken. When will those three idiots finally find their way here? If they’ve given up, will I really have to wait until Pomelo and Orange grow up to get out? He remembered Rong Chuan boasting proudly that it was extremely difficult to find this valley from the outside; only he knew the entrance. No wonder, despite being so close to the Tiger Tribe, not a single outsider had been seen in three years.

“Papa, didn’t you say he’d definitely agree?” Rong Chuan stepped out from the adjacent cave entrance, his face dark.

“Don’t be impatient. Three years have passed; what’s the rush? He can’t leave anyway. Sooner or later, he’ll be yours.” Lei Jin was truly hard to deal with. After saying everything possible for three years, why hadn’t he softened at all? His son was clearly much better than that Leopard Tribe guy, Xiya. What a lack of taste! “You say that every year.” Rong Chuan complained discontentedly. He’d waited three years. How much longer did he have to wait? He didn’t want to wait anymore.

“Grapes, do you miss our Dada? I can barely remember what he looks like anymore.” Bubbles was over four years old now. His golden tail slapped the river surface, dazzling under the sunlight.

“I hate him.” The words came out in a raspy, unused childish voice.

“My Dad says Dada wouldn’t leave. He must be stuck somewhere and can’t get back.” Bubbles scratched his mop of golden hair, then added, “My Dad also says Dada loved Grapes the most. He wouldn’t have wanted to leave.” Bubbles held Grapes’ soft little hand, repeating what he’d heard from Berg.

“People in the tribe say he left. That he abandoned me and my dads.” Though young, he understood many things.

“Dada disappeared. Uncle Lan Qi disappeared too.” Bubbles said dejectedly.

Grapes blinked away tears and asked, “What happened to Uncle Lan Qi?” He remembered Uncle Lan Qi too; he always gave Grapes lots of things whenever they met. It was hard to forget.

“I’ll tell you secretly, Grapes.” Bubbles glanced around to ensure no one was nearby before whispering, “I think it’s because Uncle Lan Qi made my Dad angry.”

“Uncle Berg?” Grapes’ attention shifted temporarily.

“Once, I saw Uncle Lan Qi pinning my dad on the bed. Dad seemed to be in a lot of pain; he kept crying out. I rushed in to save Dad. Later, Uncle Lan Qi was kicked out by Dad.”

“If Uncle Lan Qi bullied Uncle Berg, then he’s a bad person.” Grapes puffed out his cheeks, clenching his little fists.

“I don’t know. But Uncle Lan Qi said he was planting a little brother in Dad’s belly.” Bubbles wrinkled his little face, looking quite troubled.

“Planting a little brother?” The two little heads huddled together, muttering for a long time, but neither could figure it out.

“Grapes, Bubbles, time for lunch.” Mingya was coming down the mountain path.

“I thought you’d be here these days. I sneaked out today; haven’t even told Dad yet. I need to go back. I’ll come play with you again tomorrow.”

“Then take this. It has the yummy snacks I brought for you.” Grapes took off a small pouch hanging at his waist.

Bubbles took it and hung it around his neck. He waved at Mingya. “Youngest Uncle Mingya, I’ll come again tomorrow. Grapes, I’m leaving.”

Mingya reminded Bubbles to be careful on the way back. He bent down and picked up Grapes, wiping his face. “Did Grapes cry? Did Bubbles upset you?” Tear tracks were still visible at the corners of his eyes.

Grapes shook his head.

“That’s good. Otherwise, your Youngest Dad would feel so sad. Shall I carry Grapes back?” Mingya asked.

Grapes affectionately nuzzled his cheek in agreement.

Mingya chuckled softly, a note of nostalgia in his voice. “When your Youngest Dad met your Papa, he carried Youngest Dad just like this too. Grapes misses him; Youngest Dad misses him very much too.” His voice gradually softened towards the end.

“The food’s all ready, just waiting for you two.” The dining table was set up in the courtyard. Hao Chen was bringing dishes out from the kitchen. Seeing the red-rimmed eyes of the father and son pair, he paused, opening his mouth but ultimately asking nothing.

“Uncle Hao Chen, so many dishes!” Mingya remarked with a smile.

“En, some are the kinds Lei Jin found in the mountains years ago. Many families in the tribe grow them now.” Jing Yue still wasn’t used to calling Lei Jin ‘big brother’.

“Eat your meal.” Mu Yue put a piece of food into his bowl, stopping him from speaking further. Three years could change many things. For instance, he and Jing Yue now had a child. Jing Ping had also found his werebeast mate. What remained unchanged was perhaps their family’s lingering guilt and the unwavering persistence of Xiya, Moya, and Mingya.

“Uncle Hao Chen, I’ll go out for a walk after lunch.” Mingya was older now and knew when to pretend not to hear certain things.

“Go ahead. I’ll nap with Grapes later.” Hao Chen replied with a smile.

Grapes tugged at Mingya’s sleeve under the table.

“The sun’s very strong. Youngest Dad will take you out tomorrow morning, okay?” Though it wasn’t obvious on the surface, Grapes’ constitution was ultimately weaker than other children.

Though clearly reluctant, Grapes nodded in agreement.

Approaching noon, Lei Jin sat by the lake, kicked off his straw sandals, soaked his feet, and took out the mixed-vegetable steamed buns he’d made. Breaking one in half, he could eat two or three washed down with plain water.

The harvest wasn’t good. The traps he’d set were empty. Today, he’d only gathered a few wild greens, two handfuls of bamboo shoots, and a large chunk of brown root that could be used as seasoning. Its squeezed juice had a slightly sour and spicy taste, adding a bit of flavor to dishes when cooked.

After eating, he washed his hands. Using the lake’s surface as a mirror, he trimmed his now much longer hair. Thankfully those three aren’t around, or they’d stop me again. He wondered how they were doing. Pretending he didn’t miss them at all would be a lie. But more often than not, his mind was occupied with filling his and the children’s bellies and keeping Rong Chuan at bay. Honestly, given his past temperament, since Rong Chuan couldn’t get it up in the front, tricking him into providing him relief from the back wouldn’t have been difficult. But for some reason, he didn’t know what was wrong with him; for three years, his lower half had remained surprisingly well-behaved, relying solely on self-sufficiency. Hope I haven’t damaged something by holding back? Lei Jin gave himself a feel. Not bad. Still quite spirited.

Pushing aside the reeds by the lake, he revealed a large patch of wild lotus flowers. Pink blooms flourished amidst dense water plants. Lei Jin had discovered this spot long ago. Judging by past years, there should be tender water chestnuts and lotus roots ready to eat. Lei Jin jumped into the water. Sure enough, he soon gathered half a basket of water chestnuts and two large, washed lotus roots. He also picked a large bunch of a weed with small purple flowers. Though he already had plenty at home.

Last year, he’d accidentally fed this weed to two young antelope he was raising. They’d been paralyzed for two days before they could move again. Lei Jin figured this should count as an anesthetic. Since then, he’d always kept some on hand. With Rong Chuan becoming increasingly restless lately, it might soon come in handy.

It was high noon, the sun at its fiercest. Lei Jin was just about to strip off and swim a few cool laps in the lake when he sensed something wrong. Turning around, he saw Rong Chuan standing on the bank with intense interest, his eyes dark and unreadable.

“Oh, it’s you. You scared me. What are you doing here?” Lei Jin held the basket in his left hand, forcing a smile as he greeted him. Be polite first, then resort to force if needed. His right hand, hidden underwater, already gripped the bronze knife, ready to strike.

Rong Chuan stared at the wet collar clinging to the female’s chest. He’d touched the skin beneath; it was smooth, tempting him to cling to it forever.

Lei Jin narrowed his eyes, killing intent flaring. Damn it! Even if I’m handsome enough to outrage heaven, I wasn’t made for you! Will this never end?

A werebeast’s innate instinct screamed at Rong Chuan that Lei Jin was dangerous to approach right now. But a fire burned within him, uncontrollable. He jumped into the water anyway, advancing step by step towards Lei Jin.

Lei Jin flung his basket ashore, kicked water, spun around, and darted into the lotus thicket like a fish. He knew well that even in the water, head-on, he was no match for Rong Chuan. His only tactic was evasion and guerrilla warfare.

Seeing Lei Jin slip away, Rong Chuan roared in frustration and gave chase.

The lotus thicket was dark and stiflingly dense. Lei Jin, relying on agility and familiarity with the terrain, slipped into a blind spot. He stabbed his knife into Rong Chuan again and again—accurately, viciously, targeting spots that caused excruciating pain without being immediately fatal. He still retained some sense, knowing he couldn’t actually kill Rong Chuan. But if he didn’t teach a harsh lesson this time, Rong Chuan was clearly preparing to force the issue. The fight lasted at least an hour. Rong Chuan was covered in wounds. Lei Jin didn’t look much better, bloodied and covered in countless scratches and tears from Rong Chuan’s clawing. But at least the lust in Rong Chuan’s eyes was finally extinguished. He should stay quiet for a while.

Lei Jin spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, washed the blood off his body haphazardly, and climbed ashore. He turned and waved amiably at Rong Chuan, still in the water. “I’ll head off first. No rush; take your time washing.” He smiled.

Rong Chuan, furious, punched the water surface, only to wince as the movement aggravated his wounds. He was left sucking in cold air. He cursed inwardly: Lei Jin, let’s see how long you can keep running.

“Ol’ Dad! Ol’ Dad…”

Pomelo and Orange spotted Lei Jin’s figure from afar and raced towards him, calling out.

“Did you eat well today?” Lei Jin took one hand in each of his. His arms hurt; he couldn’t carry them today.

“Yes! We ate meat at Grandpa’s! Dad, today elder brother and I caught a huge fish!” Orange stretched out his short little arms as far as he could to demonstrate.

“Really huge, ol’ Dad!” At this, Pomelo’s eyes also lit up.

“What did I tell you? You’re not allowed to play by the lake! Didn’t you listen at all?” The lake was deep, and the area deserted. If the little ones accidentally fell in… Lei Jin didn’t dare think about it.

“Not at the lake, ol’ Dad! Little Brother and I… catch meat… mountain side.” Pomelo, still young, wasn’t very clear, but Lei Jin understood. They’d found it while hunting near the mountainside. That was the land entrance to the underground river; perhaps some fish had been washed ashore.

“True! True! Ol’ Dad! Fish has big big tail!”

“Alright then. Where’s the fish?”

“In our pot! Grandpa doesn’t know!” Pomelo declared proudly. Though Rong Chuan’s papa treated them well, the two children seemed inherently distant from him.

Lei Jin chuckled softly. Watching their wobbly forms, his wounds didn’t seem to hurt as much anymore.

“You even started the fire?” Lei Jin returned home to see flames flickering beneath the stone pot. He habitually left a few embers in the hearth—partly to keep water warm, partly because it made lighting the fire easier; just add dry grass. The two little ones, watching him every day, had clumsily learned to do it too, despite their awkwardness.

“Ol’ Dad, fish soup!” Orange spun around, his large violet eyes bright and gleaming as he grinned.

Fish soup? With a pot of water and one unprepared fish? Lei Jin thought wryly. But the kids had tried so hard; he couldn’t criticize them outright. He went to lift the lid off the pot.

“Bubbles?” Lei Jin exclaimed in shock. Lying at the bottom of the pot was a golden-haired merfolk, his face flushed red from the heat, blowing streams of bubbles from his mouth. Though three years had passed, that familiar little face was unmistakably Bubbles’.

He quickly scooped the boy out. Thankfully, the stone pot heated slowly. Had he returned any later, these two little rascals might have boiled Bubbles alive! Lei Jin checked him over. Bubbles had some scrapes and scratches, but none were deep. Lei Jin guessed he must have knocked against something in the underground river, temporarily knocking himself out.

The two little ones seemed to know they’d messed up again. They crouched side-by-side in a far corner on all fours, clearly afraid of a spanking.

“Come here. This is your big brother. Watch over him. Ol’ Dad’s making dinner.” Only then did they obediently crawl over, eyeing the still-unconscious Bubbles with curiosity. Orange gently poked him with a tiny paw, tilting his head and asking Pomelo, “Elder Brother, is Brother Grapes a fish?” He only knew he had an unseen older brother named Grapes.

“Fish yummy.” Ol’ Dad’s cooked fish was delicious.

“Then… is Brother Grapes yummy?” Orange nibbled on his little paw.

Pomelo glanced outside. Ol’ Dad was still busy cooking and hadn’t noticed. He whispered a suggestion: “How about… we take a bite to taste? Just one bite.”

Orange swallowed his saliva, thinking Elder Brother Pomelo made sense. They each leaned in and took a bite on either side of Bubbles’ face.

“OWWWW!” Bubbles screamed, clutching his face as the pain jolted him awake.

“What’s wrong, Bubbles?” Lei Jin rushed in.

Pomelo and Orange widened their eyes, trying their best to look utterly innocent and uninvolved.

“Dada?” Bubbles tentatively called out. He couldn’t clearly remember Lei Jin’s face, but the scent was familiar.

“It’s me, Bubbles. I’m Dada. It’s been three years; Bubbles’ all grown up.” Lei Jin said excitedly.

“Dada, where did you go? We couldn’t find you anywhere!” Once confirmed, Bubbles immediately showed the familiar closeness of old.

“Dada’s stuck here and can’t get out. How did you get here, Bubbles?”

“Grapes and Youngest Uncle Mingya came. I sneaked out to see Grapes. Didn’t tell Dad. Wanted to take a shortcut back to the sea. Then… the water got really strong. I don’t know how I ended up here. Dada, where is this?”

“Bubbles, did you say Grapes and Mingya are at the Tiger Tribe?” Lei Jin asked, a note of excitement in his voice. But thinking they were so close yet couldn’t meet, his expression dimmed again.

“Uncle Xiya, Uncle Moya, Youngest Uncle Mingya… they come with Grapes all the time.”

“Oh?” Lei Jin replied somewhat listlessly.

“They’ve been looking for Dada all along, but couldn’t find you. Grapes misses you so much too. Look! This is what Grapes brought!” Bubbles took off the small pouch hanging around his neck.

Hearing about his child, Lei Jin perked up. He asked many detailed questions about Grapes. Knowing they were all well now eased his mind somewhat.

He wanted to ask more, but the loud “gurgling” sound from Bubbles’ stomach was impossible to ignore.

“Dada will make you something delicious tonight. Bubbles hasn’t eaten since noon, right? There’s meat stewing in the pot right now.” Lei Jin smiled.

Bubbles agreed sheepishly. The two little ones, hearing about the delicious food, hopped up and down with joy.

“None for you two! What were you doing biting Brother Bubbles’ face just now?” Lei Jin scolded. He’d clearly seen the two neat rows of tooth marks on Bubbles’ cheeks.

Only then did Bubbles notice the two chubby fluff balls shrinking off to the side.

“Dada, who are they?”

“These are your little brothers, Pomelo and Orange.” Lei Jin grabbed one in each hand and presented them to Bubbles.

“Wow! Dada! They look exactly the same!” Bubbles cried out in amazement, looking from one to the other, unable to tell which was Pomelo and which was Orange.

“Tell your Brother Bubbles, which one of you is Pomelo, which one is Orange?” Lei Jin instructed.

Pomelo’s eyes darted. He declared loudly, “I’m Orange!”

“Then I’m Pomelo!”

They even nodded at each other with surprising coordination.

“Say that again. Ol’ Dad didn’t hear clearly.” Lei Jin asked slowly, enunciating each word.

“I’m big brother Pomelo. He’s little brother Orange.” Faced with his ol’ dad’s nearly fierce gaze, Pomelo could only tell the truth obediently. Why doesn’t ol’ Dad ever get confused? Grandpa and that Rong Chuan uncle can’t tell us apart!

“Play nicely with Brother Bubbles here. If you lie again, ol’ Dad will carve your names onto your foreheads with a knife.” Lei Jin threatened, twirling his small knife in his palm. One had to admit, Lei Jin was truly something—he didn’t even spare his own sons from intimidation.

That night, they had boiled water chestnuts, tender stewed pork with lotus root chunks, stir-fried shredded chicken, and Lei Jin specially steamed two fish for Bubbles. The three little ones ate until their mouths gleamed with oil. Lei Jin was busy shelling water chestnuts for them and didn’t eat much himself. Besides, he was in too much pain to have much appetite.

Once they were all sound asleep, Lei Jin boiled a pot of hot water to wash himself. By moonlight, he went outside, picked a few handfuls of green greens, mashed them, and applied the paste to his wounds.

Seven or eight days passed like this in the valley. Bubbles, Pomelo, and Orange had become good playmates. But Bubbles began thinking of home.

“But Bubbles, there’s no exit here. Ol’ Dad doesn’t know how to get out.” Lei Jin crouched down, trying to explain.

“Dada, I can go out the way I came in! Through that river!”

“No! The currents in that underground river are too strong! What if you get swept somewhere else?” Lei Jin refused. If Bubbles stayed here, even though he couldn’t leave, Lei Jin could at least take care of him.

“It’s okay, Dada! Look! This is the pendant Uncle Lan Qi gave me. He said as long as I hold it in my mouth, I won’t fear any waves in the water.”

“Is that so?” Lei Jin turned the pendant over. He couldn’t tell what material it was made of. But Lan Qi was Bubbles’ biological father; he wouldn’t harm him.

“Alright then. Dada will tie a rope around your waist. If you can’t get out, shout loudly, and Dada will pull you back.” Lei Jin took precautions.

“Dada, I’ll go out and find my Dad and Youngest Uncle Mingya to rescue you!” He had seen the bad man coming to fight Dada at night.

“Bubbles, good boy.” It seemed Bubbles had witnessed Rong Chuan’s nightly sneak attacks over the past few days. Lei Jin hadn’t initially planned to rely on Bubbles—he was only a four-year-old child. But now, he couldn’t help feeling a flicker of hope. He leaned close to Bubbles’ ear and whispered a few simple instructions. Anything too complicated, the child wouldn’t remember.

“Dada, I remember everything!” Bubbles flawlessly repeated the instructions.

“Alright, don’t cry. When we get out, we’ll see Brother Bubbles again.” Lei Jin pulled the rope back. Tied to the end was a small pouch—their agreed signal. If Bubbles made it out safely, he would tie this pouch to the other end.

“Ol’ Dad, I want Brother Bubbles.”

“Me too, ol’ Dad.”

“We’ll definitely see him again.” Lei Jin carried them home. The two little ones had been confined to this valley since birth for three years, without any playmates their age. Seeing Bubbles leave, they cried until their eyes were swollen.

Lei Jin carried the salted chicken and meat to the cave at the back to hang up. Strangely enough, though the valley was damp, the cave was exceptionally cool and dry. Food stored here rarely spoiled; it was a natural preservative. Standing on a rock, he hung the meat in a cool, ventilated spot high in the cave, letting it air-dry. This way, it could be stored longer, ensuring food for winter.

It seemed things weren’t going smoothly. Over half a month had passed since Bubbles left, and there was still no news. Had something gone wrong in between? Today, he’d managed to trick Rong Chuan into leaving with much difficulty. Hopefully, they could seize the opportunity. Troubled by this thought, he suddenly felt a tight grip around his waist. Two thick arms locked around him from behind, and the knife he always kept tucked at his waist was swiftly removed.

“Let go, Rong Chuan!” Lei Jin jabbed his elbow backward hard against Rong Chuan’s head.

Rong Chuan grunted, but his arms didn’t loosen an inch. He simply lifted Lei Jin off the rock, pinned him against the cave wall, and began licking his neck.

“Rong Chuan, let’s talk this over.” Lei Jin struggled to stay calm, thinking, thank goodness the little ones are out.

“I won’t listen to you this time!” He had fallen for Lei Jin’s tricks countless times before, big and small. He wouldn’t be fooled again.

“You can’t even get it up down there anymore! What the hell are you thinking?” As Rong Chuan groped his front, Lei Jin finally couldn’t contain his fury and roared.

“Just let me touch… just let me lick…” Rong Chuan panted heavily.

“Fuck! Are you deliberately trying to disgust me?” Lei Jin struggled to dodge, the mere thought of the scenario making his scalp crawl. I wouldn’t want you even if you were given to me for free! How dare you try to take advantage!

Finally freeing an arm, Lei Jin reached into his pocket, grabbed a handful of powder, and flung it backward.

Rong Chuan coughed, releasing Lei Jin to wipe his face. Lei Jin spun around instantly, pinned Rong Chuan’s arms, and punched him hard in the eye.

“How’s the anesthetic treating you? Have a nice nap here.” Rong Chuan, now affected by the drug, lay sprawled on the ground. Lei Jin delivered a ruthless kick to his chest, retrieved his knife, dusted off his hands, and prepared to leave.

“If you leave today, once I can move, I’ll kill those two little brats!” Rong Chuan refused to give up.

But he regretted it the moment he spoke. He saw Lei Jin’s expression change. Gone was the usual teasing and mockery. The man turned lethally sharp in an instant.

“Let’s not revisit the grievances from three years ago. Over these three years, no matter what, you and your papa have helped me a lot. I do understand repaying kindness. That’s why I’ve tolerated you repeatedly and spared your life. Did you think I genuinely couldn’t kill you?” His physical strength was inherently inferior to a werebeast’s, but some things depended not just on strength, but on brains.

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

“No… I didn’t…” Rong Chuan felt Lei Jin’s knife slide across his neck and began to panic. He knew exactly how sharp this knife was.

“I truly don’t want to kill you. But if I have to choose between the children and you… I can only choose to let you… DIE!”

“Lei Jin! Lei Jin! Where are you?”

Lei Jin’s body jolted. Had he misheard? Have they finally come?

“Lei Jin! It’s Mingya! Where are you?”

“That’s Mingya’s voice.”

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“Ol’ Dad, ol’ Dad…” Lei Jin was busy grinding flour inside the cave when he heard their overlapping shouts long before he saw them.

“Where have you two been running wild all afternoon?” Lei Jin brushed flour dust off himself and walked out with a stern expression. He saw two identical golden fluff balls puffing and panting as they dragged a plump pheasant out from the red flower bushes. One even had a large, comical dried leaf plastered to his forehead.

“Ol’ Dad, meat! Meat!” The slightly larger cub, catching his breath, pushed the pheasant towards his ol’ Dad with an expression full of anticipation for praise.

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

“Hmm, Pomelo is such a good boy.” Lei Jin couldn’t hold back a smile anymore. He rapped his knuckles lightly on the cub’s little head.

“Ol’ Dad, me too…” the other one chimed in, blinking identical violet eyes and dragging out his words in a soft, coaxing tone.

“Orange is a good boy too.” Lei Jin shook his head helplessly and plucked the leaf off his forehead.

The two cubs cheered, leapt into Lei Jin’s arms, and instantly transformed into two naked, chubby toddlers. Their limbs were plump and round, like sections of lotus root. Both had golden hair and violet eyes, looking lively and energetic. However, their ears and tails hadn’t mastered transformation yet, remaining in their beast form. Lei Jin had found it odd-looking at first, but now he was used to it and even found it rather cute—especially when they misbehaved and tried to run away knowing a spanking was coming. Lei Jin, unable to catch them easily, had learned to snag their tails instead—a guaranteed catch every time.

“Ol’ Dad, eat meat! Meat!” Pomelo wrapped his arms around Lei Jin’s neck, pleading in his sweetest baby voice.

“Alright, alright. I’ll make wontons stuffed with mushroom and meat for dinner tonight.” Still young, they couldn’t name animals like pheasants yet; they just knew it was “meat.” Likely a werebeast instinct, they’d been carnivores from a very young age. Starting a while back, without being taught, the two little ones had begun catching small prey like pheasants and rabbits and bringing them home.

This was their third summer in this secluded valley. The two cubs were now three years old. Before two, they’d stayed in beast form. Gradually, they’d learned to shift into human form, initially only for very short periods. Now they could maintain it for most of the day.

“Be good now. Practice the characters I taught you a few days ago. I’ll make dinner.” Lei Jin set them down and handed each a small stick. He wasn’t necessarily aiming to cultivate great scholars, but they needed to be literate at least—enough to read and write letters within the family. He had zero interest in those complex knotted ropes used for messages.

The two little ones pouted, ready to bargain, but seeing their ol’ Dad’s expression darken, they quickly weighed their options. Ears drooping, they squatted reluctantly by the dirt pile near the entrance and began practicing their characters.

Lei Jin grabbed two handfuls of dried mushrooms from the stone shelf in the corner and soaked them in water. He turned and vigorously pounded the remaining red-flower peaches. The shells cracked, powder scattered, revealing the dark, sticky substance inside. He picked it out and placed it on a sunny rock outside to dry. Once dried, he could crush it, filter it with water to remove impurities, and use it as flour. Though it tasted astringent, it was the only flour-like staple he could find in the valley.

Back when he’d encountered Rong Chuan, Lei Jin had thought it was the end. Postpartum weakness, covered in injuries, unable to even stand—how could he possibly escape a werebeast with two newborn babies? But just as his mind raced, Rong Chuan had simply thrown himself on top of him. Seeing this, Lei Jin had actually relaxed. Firstly, he knew as long as Rong Chuan remained obsessed, he and the babies were likely safe from immediate death. Secondly… he strongly doubted Rong Chuan could actually perform. Sure enough, after groping him for a long time, the flesh between Rong Chuan’s legs remained flaccid. Getting felt up wouldn’t kill him; it was disgusting, yes, but not worth dying over.

Three years had passed, and the two households had coexisted in this small valley, somehow making it through.

Lei Jin mixed the ground meat paste with the mushrooms and began rolling out dough wrappers. The two little ones suddenly perked up, hearing something. They shifted back to beast form, fur bristling, eyes fixed warily on a spot not far away.

“Alright, come wash up. Dinner’s almost ready.” Lei Jin gave them a casual glance, seemingly unconcerned, and called them in calmly. With their tiny bodies, he could handle them easily in a fight, let alone Rong Chuan.

“My papa sent over some salt.” Rong Chuan grumbled, carrying a partially filled animal-skin sack on his shoulder.

Before Lei Jin could stop them, the two cubs let out low, fierce growls. Each lunged at one of Rong Chuan’s legs and bit down hard.

Rong Chuan frowned in annoyance, lifting his leg to kick them off.

“Rong Chuan, don’t you dare!” Lei Jin yelled sharply, rushing forward to scoop up the two little ones who stubbornly clung on, refusing to let go.

“Why are you so jumpy? Did you think I’d kill them? If I wanted to, I would’ve done it long ago,” Rong Chuan muttered. He walked straight into the cave. Though he disliked the little brats intensely, Lei Jin treated them like treasures. He was still holding out hope that Lei Jin might soften one day and agree to be with him. He wasn’t stupid enough to provoke Lei Jin into a fight to the death.

The two cubs still struggled, baring their tiny sharp milk teeth.

“Enough! Quiet down. Behave.” Lei Jin shot them a stern look, though his hands gently rubbed their little bellies before setting them down in a basin of warm water.

“What tasty thing are you making now?” Rong Chuan asked, making himself at home. He leaned in to sniff the filling. “Smells pretty good.”

Unwilling to engage, Lei Jin kept wrapping the wontons, answering coldly, “Wontons.”

“What’s that? Never heard of it.” Rong Chuan seized the chance to inch closer, his hands starting to wander.

Lei Jin looked up, lips tightening into a thin smile. “If your memory’s failing, feel free to come even closer.”

Rong Chuan flinched, instinctively covering his stomach where the scar still was. How could he forget? He was already like this, what more could he do? He just wanted to sneak a feel when Lei Jin was asleep. Who knew Lei Jin would be so ruthless? That single downward slash had nearly gutted him, leaving him bedridden for half a year.

The two cubs, finished with their bath, automatically shuffled over to the fire to dry their fur. There were no towels here.

“Haven’t I been good to you?” Rong Chuan blurted out, unable to suppress his resentment. They’d lived together in this valley for three years. He brought game, he brought salt… Why was Lei Jin still so cold to him?

Lei Jin almost laughed. What kind of messed-up logic was that? Just because someone was “good” to him, he was supposed to accept them? What a lousy principle. Well… those three back home might be the exception.

He wondered how they were doing. The first year, he’d tried every possible way to escape. But the surrounding cliffs were sheer; climbing was impossible. There was only one subterranean river leading out of the valley, but the underground waterways were complex. He’d tried several times but failed to find the real exit, nearly getting swept away by undercurrents more than once. The only one who could likely come and go freely, Rong Chuan, clearly had no intention of helping.

Over the past two years, he’d gradually come to terms with it. Maybe some separation wasn’t a bad thing. In just over a year since meeting them, they’d gone through sex, childbirth… it had all happened so fast. Looking back now, he realized he had left no retreat route for himself. That really wasn’t his style at all. As for those three… well, he hadn’t exactly trusted their integrity anyway. This separation was a chance to see things clearly. Granting his complete trust had always been difficult for him.

He never demanded they remain chaste for him. They were all men; sometimes urges were hard to control, he understood that. But once they took someone else, it meant the end of their relationship. However, he would take Grapes with him. No matter who the father was, Grapes was his own flesh and blood, carried for seven months. The child was his. The men? If they strayed, they could go to hell. He wouldn’t force them to stay.

The stone pot had a thick bottom; the water took its time to boil. Lei Jin used this time to ladle out some pre-made bamboo shoot and chicken broth into a bowl. He asked Rong Chuan, “How many do you want?” Rong Chuan and his papa had helped a lot over the years. He wasn’t so stingy as to deny him a meal.

Rong Chuan looked both surprised and wary, carefully gauging Lei Jin’s expression. “I… I can really have some?”

Lei Jin shot him an impatient glare.

“I want these,” Rong Chuan pointed to a row of particularly plump and round wontons.

“No.” Lei Jin refused without hesitation. This guy had sharp eyes, those were specially packed for the kids, extra filling.

“Then… whatever.” Rong Chuan swallowed hard, hovering right behind Lei Jin as he deftly slid the wontons into the boiling pot. Watching him, that familiar clawing ache of desire twisted in Rong Chuan’s gut again. This female was bad-tempered, yes, but beautiful and a fantastic cook. Why couldn’t he be his?

“Slow down, there’s more in the pot.” Lei Jin handed a bowl of slightly cooled wontons to the two little ones.

“These are for you and your papa.” Lei Jin scooped two more bowls and handed them to Rong Chuan, who had been waiting eagerly nearby.

Rong Chuan wanted to linger, but seeing Lei Jin’s clear dismissal, he knew he’d been given more face than usual today. He left, looking back every few steps, clinging to the hope that as long as Lei Jin couldn’t leave, he’d eventually get his chance.

Once Rong Chuan was finally gone, Lei Jin slumped in exhaustion. He knew well that dealing with Rong Chuan required avoiding direct confrontation. If truly provoked, who knew what he might do? Though outwardly strong, inwardly, Lei Jin remained constantly vigilant.

“Ol’ Dad, yummy!” Orange mumbled, his face still buried in the bowl.

“Yummy? I’ll make them again another day.” Lei Jin ruffled his hair. These kids had suffered with him here. Though he tried his best to cook tasty things, the food options in the valley were severely limited. There really wasn’t much to work with.

After dinner, the father and sons washed the dishes together. These bowls and utensils were painstakingly carved by Lei Jin from wood. Though crude and not very pretty, they served their purpose.

“Ol’ Dad, I wanna go out.” Pomelo pointed at the sky outside, squirming restlessly in Lei Jin’s lap.

“You can go out when you can fly.” Though he said it, the two cubs were still covered in baby fluff, their tiny wing buds barely noticeable. He didn’t know at what age werebeasts learned to fly, but it certainly wasn’t now.

“Ol’ Dad, I wanna see Brother Grapes too,” Orange added softly. They often heard their ol’ Dad talk about how amazing Brother Grapes was, beating up little werebeast cubs who didn’t dare fight back.

“Go to sleep now. We’ll talk tomorrow.” Mentioning this stirred a pang of sadness in Lei Jin. He hadn’t slept well during these three years. Grapes must be nearly four now. Did he still remember him? When Lei Jin left, Grapes could barely walk. Now he should be running and talking.

“Grapes, sleep with Dad tonight?” Moya asked his son, who emerged from his bath with a solemn little face.

Grapes silently shook his head and climbed into his small bed by himself.

“Grapes, look! Youngest Dad prepared snacks for the journey. Tomorrow, Youngest Dad will take you to Grandpa Hao Chen’s house.” Mingya leaned over the bed rail, carefully laying out the prepared items for Grapes to see.

Only then did Grapes hook his arms around Mingya’s neck, offering a small smile.

“Then call me ‘Youngest Dad,’ okay?” Mingya coaxed.

Grapes blinked, remaining silent.

Mingya knew he’d failed again. Grapes was nearly four years old and hadn’t spoken a single word. Yet, Chunji insisted there was nothing wrong with his vocal cords.

“Eldest Brother, why are you back so late today?” Moya looked up as Xiya entered.

“Many in the tribe suggested clearing the woods on North Mountain to plant more grain,” Xiya replied, sounding weary. “But Papa said if we do that, landslides will likely happen in a few years due to the loss of tree cover, and our tribe will suffer the consequences. You know how it’s been these past couple of years. Grain harvests have been good. Many females have seen the benefits of growing grain and are joining the clamor now. No one can persuade them otherwise. And you know how Papa hates explaining these things.” The thought of those noisy females gave him a headache.

“Papa’s advice always has its reasons.” Uncle An Bu, though still nominally chief, had never fully recovered from a serious injury years ago. His health had declined, and he was gradually handing responsibilities over to Xiya.

“If only Lei Jin were still here…” Mingya sighed. Everyone listened to him, especially the females.

Grapes turned away and burrowed into his blanket.

Mingya, seeing his brothers’ somber expressions, knew he’d misspoken again. He bit his lip and stayed quiet.

“Go to sleep, Grapes. You have a long journey tomorrow.” Xiya came over to check on Grapes, deliberately changing the subject. Every year around this time, Grapes went to stay with the Tiger Tribe for a while.

“Moya, this bed looks a bit small for Grapes now.” Xiya remarked, looking at the small bed—the same one Lei Jin had asked Jia He to make years ago.

“I thought so too. I’ll take him to Jia He tomorrow to have it enlarged,” Moya replied.

Three years ago, Moya had rushed to the Tiger Tribe. Midway, he met Jing Yue, who had come to deliver the news: Lei Jin was missing. They had searched the entire Tiger Tribe but found nothing.

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

Moya had entered that room. Everything was as Lei Jin had left it—even a freshly changed shirt lay draped over the bed. It seemed as if he had just stepped out for a casual walk. But no one in the tribe had seen him that afternoon. Lei Jin had vanished as if evaporated into thin air, leaving as abruptly as he had arrived.

Papa had suggested Lei Jin might have truly returned to his own world this time. Perhaps the path back wasn’t limited to the one they knew. But they refused to believe it. Lei Jin had been seven months pregnant; why would he choose to leave then? And he had promised to stay. So they had never stopped searching.

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Dizzy and disoriented, Lei Jin had no idea how far he’d slid. As the slope finally began to level out, he desperately tried grabbing onto something with his free hand. He finally managed to clutch a thick vine hanging from an old tree, stopping his terrifying descent – but only after ripping off two fingernails in the process. Gasping for breath, he looked up and down and cursed inwardly. Damn it, is heaven jealous of my talent? Above him stretched another hundred meters of sheer incline, with large swathes of earth still sliding down. Below was far worse: the great river flowing through Tiger territory. Here, near its estuary where several tributaries converged, the water churned violently. The height alone was dizzying. He had absolutely no desire to personally test the “protagonist survives the cliff jump” trope.

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

Just then, the two little troublemakers in his belly decided to add to the chaos. Waves of increasingly intense pain wracked his body, sending cold sweat pouring down his back. He felt an almost primal urge to rip his belly open, yank them out, and give them a good spanking. Fatherly reason prevailed, however. He spoke softly to his stomach. “Alright, alright. I scared you back there. Don’t be afraid. Daddy’s here.”

He repeated this several times. Miraculously, the babies seemed to understand and quieted down for a moment. Lei Jin wiped the sweat from his forehead, knowing clinging like a gecko halfway up a mountain was unsustainable. The cool valley wind buffeted him, making the vine sway. The area was deserted; shouting for help was pointless. If the vine snapped, he’d be nothing but a bloody smear on the rocks below.

He’d always thought himself pragmatic about death, even joking that everyone had to go sometime, sooner or later. Faced with it now, however, a fierce will to live surged within him. He thought of the three waiting for him at home, wondered if Grapes’ fever had broken, and remembered the two lives still inside him. These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, sharpening his focus. He tightened his grip on the vine, ignoring the warm blood trickling down his arm from torn fingernails. Scanning the cliff face desperately, he spotted a small ledge about two meters away. The vines nearby seemed dense and sturdy enough. No choice. Got to try. 

He kicked off the rock face, using the momentum to swing on the vine and grab the next one. After switching vines four or five times, he finally reached the ledge. He paused, catching his breath. It’s either do or die. With one final lunge, he landed heavily on the narrow outcrop. The old tree, unable to bear the strain any longer, ripped free from its roots and plummeted silently into the raging river far below.

Lei Jin lay sprawled on the ledge, barely half a meter wide, heart pounding with delayed terror. It took him a good while to calm down enough to mutter, “Survive a great disaster, gain great fortune later…”

Moving his limbs gingerly, he discovered the ledge wasn’t isolated. It was part of a path hidden beneath thick weeds and vines. Covered in moss from perpetual shade, it was treacherously slippery. He hadn’t noticed it before. Cradling his belly, he inched along the rock face on hands and knees. After crawling cautiously for about two or three hundred meters, the path ended. But in the rock wall, he found a low opening, just tall enough to crawl through head-first. A cool draft flowed from within. Pitch black, its destination unknown. He had no other choice. He crawled in.

The tunnel sloped downward. The walls felt icy and smooth to the touch – not earth, but some kind of stone. It widened as he descended. With no branching paths, he kept crawling forward. By the time he emerged from the other end, he was drenched in a cold sweat from the ordeal. Moonlight revealed he was in a valley, but night had fallen completely. Being human, not a werebeast, he could see almost nothing.

Lei Jin slumped against the rock wall to rest. The familiar, heavy ache in his belly surged back.

“Babies, hold on a little longer,” he pleaded, stroking his stomach. “Wait until we get out of here. Please don’t come now. Daddy truly has no strength left.” During the slide, he was pretty sure he’d broken his left leg; any movement sent sharp pain shooting through it. Ever since carrying these two, he seemed prone to fractures. With Moya around, it was manageable. Alone, with his huge belly, he couldn’t even reach his own calf to set it properly.

This time, the babies weren’t listening. A fiery, burning pain intensified in his abdomen. They kicked violently. His clothes, just dried by the cold wind, were soaked through again with sweat.

“You three are going to be the death of me,” Lei Jin hissed through gritted teeth, clutching his shirt. A man forced to carry children, now giving birth alone in the wilderness… He had a terrible premonition: they were coming. For werebeast babies, eight months was full term. He was at seven and a half. It was time.

He remembered hearing that walking might help speed things along. Leaning against the rock wall, he tried to stand. His injured leg buckled uselessly. He collapsed onto his knees with a thud, unable to move for a long moment.

Labor pains racked him for most of the night. Kneeling on the ground, cradling his belly, exhausted and in agony, Lei Jin finally passed out. The pain woke him again later. This cycle repeated throughout the long night. The babies didn’t come, but dawn eventually did.

Soaked and chilled by the night wind, Lei Jin woke feeling heavy-headed, his throat raw and aching. Spotting a lake shimmering in the sunlight nearby, he dragged his injured leg towards it. Seeing fish in the clear water, he knew it was likely safe. He plunged his face in, gulping down mouthfuls of cool water and splashing his face. Only then did he take stock of his surroundings. It was indeed a secluded valley, ringed by mountains. Sparse trees dotted the landscape; the center was flat grassland overgrown with dense bushes and wildflowers. Birdsong filled the air, and he glimpsed the occasional rabbit darting through the undergrowth.

Numerous cave openings dotted the mountain walls, their entrances unnaturally regular, clearly not natural formations. Lei Jin chose one closest to the lake. Inside was dry, and half a stone door offered shelter from the wind – perfect. He crawled around gathering dry branches, speared two fish with a sharp stick, and managed to start a fire. By the time he finished, he had no strength left to even lift a finger. His knees were probably raw, but compared to the agony in his belly, it was nothing.

Catching his breath, Lei Jin knew the time was near. He pushed his pants down, feeling the flint necklace Mingya had given him around his neck. At least it’s summer, he thought grimly, trying to find humor. If it was like how he gave birth to Grapes in winter, he would have frozen solid.

A powerful contraction seized him. Warm fluid gushed between his legs. Experience told him his waters had broken. There was no turning back now. Remembering how long Grapes’ birth took, and fearing he’d lose strength, he forced himself to eat the half-cooked fish despite the pain.

Finding a spot sheltered from the wind, he half-lay, legs spread wide. His huge belly rippled visibly; the babies were impatient. Tearing pain radiated from between his legs, but no baby emerged. Gritting his teeth, he mimicked Healer Qingqiao’s method, pressing down on his belly. The agony was unbearable. Even his formidable will broke. A hoarse scream tore from his throat. “It hurts! Ah… Moya, save me! Moya, save me…”

Moya jolted awake where he’d slumped beside the bed.

Xiya, seeing this, asked, “What’s wrong? You’re exhausted. You were up all night at Uncle An Bu’s. Go sleep in the bed. I’ll watch Grapes. His fever’s starting to break. Chunji said if it doesn’t spike again by tonight, he’ll be out of danger.”

Moya rubbed his temples and felt Grapes’ forehead. The heat was indeed receding. “I’m fine. I’ll rest after tonight.” He’d managed this long; one more day wouldn’t kill him.

“Nightmare? You’re covered in cold sweat,” Xiya noted, seeing his pallor.

“Eldest Brother… I’m worried about Lei Jin.” He couldn’t recall the dream, but a deep sense of dread lingered.

Xiya’s expression sobered. He sighed. “Uncle An Bu is critically injured. Life or death is uncertain. His wish was for one of us to succeed him as chief. You’ve said you don’t want it. If I leave now too… I’d feel like I’m failing him. Grapes is still sick. Mingya’s leg isn’t healed. And you said Uncle Hao Chen has practically adopted Lei Jin. Surely they’ll take good care of him.” It was the only way to rationalize it, but the worry gnawed at him too.

Moya clenched his fists. He knew Lei Jin’s nature. He’d never willingly burden others. His temper tantrums with them were precisely because he saw them as family. Even with Uncle Hao Chen, if Lei Jin was suffering, he’d likely just endure it silently. He was probably miserable right now.

“If they’re werebeast babies, they should be born this month,” Moya added quietly.

The implication hit Xiya. His face tightened. After a moment, he said, “If Grapes’ fever breaks tonight, Mingya and I can manage things here and with Uncle An Bu. You should go to Lei Jin.” He saw Moya was nearing his breaking point. A temporary escape might be good. His child, Lei Jin, his father – any one was a heavy burden. All three together were crushing.

“Alright,” Moya agreed.

Lei Jin’s face was deathly pale. His legs trembled uncontrollably. He’d bitten his lips bloody. Finally, he felt the baby move lower. Black spots danced before his eyes. Terrified of passing out now, he fumbled in his shirt pocket with shaking hands, pulled out the small bronze knife, and slashed his arm several times. Blood welled instantly.

“Quite sharp, huh…” he gasped, the pain jolting his fading consciousness.

How much time passed, he didn’t know.

“AHHHH!” A guttural scream tore from him as a wet, slippery little body slid out between his legs. Relief washed over him, and he slumped backward. Then his eyes snapped open in panic. The other one! He bore down again with everything he had. The second baby came much faster.

“Two little boys. Thank goodness not two cubs,” he breathed, genuinely relieved he hadn’t birthed actual leopard kits. Pushing himself up against the rock wall, he gathered the babies, severed the umbilical cords himself, and gave them firm slaps. Strong, healthy cries filled the cave. Assured they were fine, his last reserves of strength vanished. He wrapped them in his shirt, cradled them against his bare chest, and plunged into unconsciousness.

He slept deeply for a long time. Lei Jin woke to a strange, insistent tickling sensation on his chest. He looked down. Two golden-furred leopard cubs, eyes still closed, were nuzzling and kneading his chest with eight tiny paws, suckling fiercely.

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

“Hey! I don’t have milk for you!” Lei Jin grumbled, his face darkening. He grabbed them by the scruff of their necks, lifting one in each hand. He couldn’t fathom how the two baby boys he’d delivered had become leopard cubs while he slept, but he vividly remembered their shock of golden hair just before he passed out. Instinctively, despite their furry forms, he recognized them – the babies he’d carried for over seven grueling months.

“Well, well. Look who it is.” A voice, colder than winter frost, came from the cave entrance.

Lei Jin froze. He knew that voice. He knew exactly what “meeting your nemesis in a narrow alley” meant now. Standing there was none other than Rong Chuan – the man Xiya had beaten and expelled from the Tiger Tribe.

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Moya didn’t expect to hear such an answer and was slightly stunned.

At this time, Lei Jin’s legs were still hooked over his arms. Under the bright light, his lower half was exposed without any cover, and the most private parts were clearly visible. Even as shameless as he was, he couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed and embarrassed and kicked Moya’s shoulder hard.

Moya chuckled, took advantage of the situation to spread the legs apart and clasp them behind his waist before draping himself over him.

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

“Ngh…” Moya’s sharp teeth nibbled at his chest, and the soreness gradually disappeared. The numbness mixed with slight sting made Lei Jin moan softly.

Moya’s eyes darkened little by little, sinking to almost black.

When Lei Jin realized something was wrong, the person on top of him had already changed into a black panther with shiny black fur and a muscular body. That massive hardness hanging between his hind legs was already dripping as it pressed against his entrance, raring to go.

“No, change back right now…” Lei Jin shrank back, and even his arousal faded a little. Even though he had their child in his belly, he still couldn’t accept the fact of having sex with a leopard. Except for the time when Mingya forced him in the temple, the only time he had sex with their beast forms was back at home when he was penetrated from behind. He could still deceive himself that the thing in his body still belonged to a person, but now he was face to face with a living leopard, and it was a leopard ready to possess him at any time.

“Don’t be afraid of me…” Moya put his front paws on his shoulders and lowered his head to lick his face patiently.

“Then change back to human form.” Lei Jin insisted, as he would never compromise on this matter.

“Feel it, this is also me.”

“Asshole, ngh…” Lei Jin gasped, but Moya had already entered.

Unlike the already large size of the human form, even Lei Jin’s entrance, which had become much softer due to pregnancy, found it difficult to receive this new, heftier size in one stroke. Moya’s inch-by-inch advancement left them both a little breathless.

“Don’t be so tense, let me in.” Moya stuck out his tongue and licked Lei Jin’s round belly to calm him down.

“Get lost, why don’t you tell me why your thing is so big…” Lei Jin frowned, gripping the weeds under him tightly with both hands. Although he scolded him, he knew that it was impossible to make him pull out now. He could only force himself to stretch his body, relax the opening of his entrance, let that part enter completely, and then feel as it slowly thrust in and out. Due to the friction between them, the familiar pleasure and heat soon surged over him again.

Seeing that his expression was no longer so pained, and those silky inner walls began to squeeze slightly to retain him, Moya carefully circled his waist with his tail, raised his body, and buried his head to start thrusting.

The initial pain gradually faded away. He was used to being penetrated and his body, which had tasted the pleasure, slowly but actively welcomed the sensation inside his body. However, the warm fur that occasionally rubbed against his skin made Lei Jin close his eyes and refuse to accept the fact that he was being fucked by a leopard.

“Lei Jin, look at me. I am Moya, and I am still Moya.” Moya licked his eyelids tenderly, coaxing him to open his eyes.

“If you keep talking nonsense,… then piss off…” Although he was a bit rough around the edges, he still needed some time to adapt to such things. After all, how could anyone easily accept beastiality? He felt that he was already a superman to be able to do it to this extent. What else did they want? 

It seemed that a certain someone finally admitted that he was a bit rough around the edges.

“Okay.” Moya didn’t want to force him too hard. After all, there was still a long time to go. They can do it step by step. However, the speed of his thrusting below became faster and faster.

Lei Jin completely relaxed and let him ravish him, but his thrusts were getting deeper and deeper, and he felt as if his insides were about to be scraped raw by him. Finally, he couldn’t hold back any longer, opened his eyes and cursed intermittently. “Damn, you bastard… ngh… slow down… slow…”

The first thing that entered his vision was a huge black panther lying on him, with its mouth slightly curled, revealing an expression that was almost a smile. Without thinking, Lei Jin slapped the furry big head and said, “What the hell kind of expression is that?”

Moya sucked on his neck and took the hit without dodging. Instead of retreating, he came closer and asked, “Aren’t you afraid of my beast form?”

Lei Jin rolled his eyes at him while panting. When had he ever been afraid of their beast forms? It was just that he couldn’t accept doing such intimate things with their beast forms in his heart. After all, he was a strict and conservative Asian. Strict and conservative? Fortunately, he didn’t say this aloud, otherwise he would have become a laughingstock.

Moya had no more scruples. The lower halves of the man and the leopard fit tightly together. They had done it a lot these days. He was already very familiar with Lei Jin’s body and knew which parts could make him come faster. Even if he changed into his beast form, there would be no hindrance. So he no longer held back and exerted force in his thrusts.

Lei Jin gasped and watched the leopard’s dick completely penetrate his body, pumping vigorously and pistoning in him so hard that he could only groan.

“Someone is coming.” Moya, still in beast form, lay on his back comfortably in the grass, enjoying the bounces of the person riding him, his paw occasionally stroking Lei Jin’s hard length.

Lei Jin twisted his body up and down, looking for that certain spot that drove him crazy, his walls squeezing and contracting, the pleasure almost too overwhelming. Hearing this, he only looked at him with hazy eyes, not understanding what he was saying at all.

“Who’s there?” But the sudden voice woke Lei Jin up suddenly, and his walls constricted tightly in panic.

Moya was no longer in the mood to watch the show either. He opened his mouth to call out, but Lei Jin covered his mouth faster. The sudden change of body position brushed up against the most sensitive part inside, forcing him to bite his lower lip.

“Who’s there? Don’t scare people. Come out quickly.” He clearly heard someone talking just now.

“It’s Mu Yue.” Moya broke free from his hand and mouthed the words silently.

Lei Jin didn’t dare to open his mouth, so he had to nod with difficulty, indicating that he also knew that this was a place outside the daily activities of the Tiger Tribe. How could Mu Yue come here alone? No matter how thick-skinned he was, he knew that he couldn’t let anyone see him like this. Now he could only hope that with no one answering Mu Yue would leave quickly.

“Strange, why is there no sound suddenly.” Mu Yue came out to collect herbs today. He ended up walking far away without paying attention. Having left the Tiger Tribe, he was just feeling a little scared when he heard someone talking. He thought of coming to see and ask if he could accompany them back.

The footsteps brushing the grass were getting closer and closer. Lei Jin had no choice but to pull down his shirt to cover the parts where the two were connected. He cleared his throat and said, “Mu Yue, it’s me, Lei Jin.”

“It’s you.” Mu Yue was obviously relieved, pulled aside the grass, turned around the big tree that blocked the view, and jumped over in a few steps.

“Mu Yue, don’t get closer, ngh…” Lei Jin glared at the black panther under him.

Moya grinned and started moving slowly in the warm depths again, looking relaxed, not afraid of being seen at all. This kind of thing was very common in the werebeast tribes. He had encountered it more than once or twice, but it was also interesting to see Lei Jin panic.

Mu Yue felt something was wrong when he heard Lei Jin’s words, so he asked immediately, “Lei Jin, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Lei Jin leaned out of the tree trunk, smiled with difficulty and said, “It’s okay, I’m a little tired today, I’m…resting…”

“Is that so? I just picked some fruits, let’s eat them and go back together.” Mu Yue put down the basket on his back without thinking much, completely unaware of the intense exercise going on under the seemingly intact tunic.

Lei Jin’s body trembled violently, trying his best to endure the continuous thrusts in his body, pulling the two soft ears on Moya’s head and twisting them hard, signaling him to stop.

Moya felt pain on his head, and he thrust up hard to rub that spot in his memory in revenge. Lei Jin couldn’t help but let out a startled moan. Mu Yue understood in an instant, secretly cursing himself for being so stupid. With Lei Jin’s belly six months along, how could he run here by himself? He must have come with Moya. What else could he not understand in this situation? He immediately tidied his basket in a hurry, and stammered, “I… just remembered that there is still a herb that I haven’t picked by the stream. I’ll wait for you under the big tree at the bend of the stream. You… no need to rush.” After saying this, he ran away without waiting for a reply.

Lei Jin saw Mu Yue leave, gritted his teeth and turned his head back. Without saying a word, ignoring the feeling in his body, he tried to lift himself up, only for his waist to be circled and pressed down by Moya’s tail. The motion caused him to sit back heavily and feel the stinging and numbness even more clearly. The two sorest parts of his chest were also kissed. He wanted to struggle away, but his body was getting hotter and hotter with the increased friction, and any strength to speak was abruptly taken away.

It was the second time he came into his body today. Moya saw how it opened and closed, as if the hole was still not satisfied, and calmly pressed into him again for a third round.

Lei Jin cursed up a storm in his heart, but he could only open his body and let the leopard ravage him. Eventually, the last wave of liquid heat spurted into his body for what felt like several minutes.

Mu Yue couldn’t get too close, nor did he dare to be too far away. He felt a little awkward, but he couldn’t help but prick up his ears. The movement over there was really loud. Although he was not a werebeast with enhanced senses, he could still hear most of it. After an unknown amount of time, when Mu Yue felt that his legs had become numb from squatting to wash the herbs, he heard Lei Jin’s low pleading voice. “No more, Moya, it’s too hot…” And suddenly he thought of something, his balance unstabling, and half of his body tilted into the water. The cool stream water in the mountains finally doused the gradually building fire in his whole body temporarily.

Mu Yue was wringing the water out of his clothes on the bank when he saw Moya coming to the stream with a bamboo tube. Even though seeing him like this, he didn’t ask, just nodded at him, fetched some water and turned back.

As for Lei Jin, he had to half lean against Moya’s chest as he was supported. Mu Yue looked up and saw that he had dressed. He was still wearing the baggy top he often wore, and his pants were also neatly worn. However, his lips were swollen, his hair was messy, and his whole body exuded a kind of seductive aura of satisfaction and laziness. Even though he was also a female, he couldn’t help blushing and sighing in his heart. No wonder Jing Yue had been so obsessed with this person.

Lei Jin coldly pushed Moya away, stood firm, and smiled at Mu Yue. “Don’t come so far to collect herbs in the future. If you must come, Jing Yue should accompany you.”

Mu Yue knew that his in-laws treated Lei Jin as one of their own, and he himself also sincerely saw him as his brother, so he didn’t think Lei Jin was being too nosy. Instead, he felt warmth in his heart, and put aside even those thoughts of the past just now. He came over and held his hand affectionately and said, “I was also careless. I usually don’t come this far.”

Moya also knew that he had gone too far just now. Although the werebeasts can move freely between human and beast forms, The beast form has a sense of freedom from restraint, and the desire was stronger. Once they got started, it became difficult to stop. Today, considering the babies in the belly, he restrained himself a little, but after three times, his body and mind were already relaxed and comfortable. He knew that Lei Jin also enjoyed it. It was just that he hurt his dignity, so he put on an appropriate attitude of admitting his mistakes and followed the two of them obediently, carrying his own prey and helping Mu Yue carry the medicine basket.

Lei Jin knew that the three of them were not afraid to admit their mistakes, but they were also typical in that they did not change despite repeated lessons. Seeing him like this, he ignored him and chatted with Mu Yue instead. However, his legs were weak and the mountain road was long. It really made him suffer a lot. Finally, they met Jing Yue who came to pick Mu Yue up on the way. After saying goodbye, he fell into Moya’s arms and couldn’t get up. He allowed himself to be carried to the entrance of the tribe, and only then did he break free and straighten his back.

However, since then, Lei Jin had developed a taste for it. Although he still had some mental obstacles to overcome, his defense was no longer so strict. Moya could occasionally make love with his beast form once or twice out of ten times, which always left the two of them very satisfied and content.

Grapes was now almost ten months old. He was healthy and lively, and there was no trace of the sickness when he was young. He started to learn to walk. Although his steps weren’t very steady, it was a good start after all.

The Tiger Tribe had decided to divide the land after autumn, and Lei Jin also helped the tribe solve the long-standing water problem. In addition, he was good at sweet-talking and willing to pay, so he finally found some females in the tribe willing to use their free time to spin a lot of deer wool fabrics for him, so his children’s clothing problem in the future was solved.

After living in the Tiger Tribe for over two months, Lei Jin had learned they had long cultivated vegetables like cabbage, radishes, and garlic. He’d also discovered wild cucumbers, green beans, and hyacinth beans in the mountains. The best time for transplanting had passed, so he took Jing Ping to each location, planning to gather plenty of mature seeds next year for planting.

The more Kun Ge and Hao Chen interacted with Lei Jin, the fonder they grew. They asked Jing Ping to sound out Lei Jin’s feelings and chose a day to host a feast for neighbors and friends, formally announcing their adoption of him as their sworn son.

Lei Jin understood it was similar to being a godson in the modern world. Having had little family since childhood, he was happy to gain more kin. Thankfully, there was no equivalent of “mom” here; he addressed Hao Chen as “papa,” and a small part of the void in his heart eased. In this world, he had family, people who cared for him, and children. He realized, with a start, that the past was truly behind him.

Jing Ping and Mu Yue called him “big brother” without hesitation. Jing Yue, however, flatly refused to believe Lei Jin’s claimed age of twenty-eight. Yet, under the pressure of his papa’s stern gaze, he reluctantly muttered, “big brother.”

Lei Jin patted his shoulder affectionately, deliberately praising, “Good boy, Jing Yue,” sending the whole room into laughter.

If this pregnancy followed the werebeast pattern, the babies would arrive in just over a month. Hao Chen had already started sewing little clothes and swaddling blankets.

With no news from Xiya and the others, Lei Jin planned to return to the Leopard Tribe after the babies were born. But fate had other plans. In the sweltering summer heat, Grapes developed a high fever. At first, the medicine Mu Yue prescribed seemed to help, but the fever kept recurring. Eventually, it raged uncontrollably. Grapes’ tiny body burned like a furnace, unable to sweat, his cries growing weaker by the day.

Lei Jin, who had only recently relaxed seeing Grapes lively and mischievous, felt his heart constrict with worry again. He couldn’t sleep at night, waking up repeatedly to hold Grapes. Twice, he even felt faint signs of potential miscarriage.

Moya decided immediately: Grapes needed Tian Qi back in the Leopard Tribe. However, even at his fastest speed, the journey would take about twenty days. They feared Grapes, so small, wouldn’t hold on that long. Hearing this, Berg brought a rare type of silver coral that grew only on the seabed. Carrying a piece cooled the body for half a day. He brought over a hundred pieces—enough to last the journey. For Grapes’ sake he even contacted Lan Qi to provide help along the way.

Lei Jin couldn’t bear to let Grapes go without him. But when blood began to seep between his legs, he knew he couldn’t risk slowing Moya down and delaying Grapes’ treatment. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stay behind.

“Don’t overthink it. No news is good news. Grapes’ constitution has improved a lot. You said Tian Qi and Chunji are the best physicians on the continent. They saved Grapes when he was so sick as a baby; they can do it again.” Hao Chen patted his hand comfortingly.

In just over ten days, the little weight Lei Jin had gained here vanished completely.

“Papa…” Lei Jin choked out the word, unable to say more. No one knew the depth of his guilt towards that child. If he hadn’t stubbornly refused Grapes at first, the child wouldn’t have been plagued by illness since infancy.

“I understand. I understand.” Hao Chen, having lost a female child of his own, knew a parent’s fear for their child.

“But you have two more babies inside. Mu Yue said they might come early. You need to eat something; otherwise, how will you have the strength?” Mu Yue pushed a plate of food towards him—dishes Lei Jin liked, including freshly picked cucumbers mixed with wood ear fungus and wild bird eggs.

“Premature again?” Lei Jin murmured, looking down at his belly. He knew twins often came early, but Grapes’ premature birth still cast a long shadow.

“Don’t worry. Twins are rare, but Papa has delivered three children. The tribe’s healer is very experienced. And Mu Yue is here too.” Hao Chen thought he was worried about giving birth without Moya and the others present.

Even with someone as dear as Hao Chen, Lei Jin didn’t want to cause him anxiety. He forced a smile, nodded, and pulled the food towards him, ready to eat.

Seeing him willing to eat, Hao Chen finally relaxed a little.

Summer was a busy season. With the tribe now measuring and dividing land, every household was stretched thin. After lunch, Hao Chen instructed Lei Jin to rest well and headed out with Jing Ping, carrying farm tools.

The afternoon was stiflingly hot. Lei Jin dozed off on the bed and dreamed of Grapes learning to walk in the courtyard. Suddenly, the child stumbled and fell. Lei Jin rushed to help but found he couldn’t reach Grapes no matter how hard he tried. The panic jolted him awake, drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked. Heaving his increasingly cumbersome body, he drew water to wipe himself down and changed clothes. But sitting back on the bed, sleep eluded him. Moya and Grapes had been gone nearly twenty days with no word.

Lei Jin walked east along the mountain path. The sea was visible from the east. If any Feather tribespeople passed by, perhaps Moya would have sent a message. The mountains buzzed with cicadas; he met no one on the path. He stood by the cliffside for half the afternoon, scanning the horizon. Apart from seabirds, not a single Feather tribespeople appeared. 

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Unwilling to give up, and finding the sea breeze cooler than the stifling heat at home, Lei Jin decided to wait longer. Standing with a seven-month belly was exhausting. He found a large rock by the roadside and sat down. But this season brought heavy rains. Though the rock seemed firmly embedded in the earth, it was actually dangerously loose. As Lei Jin sat, the rock, along with the surrounding soil, gave way, sliding down the mountainside with him. The sudden change left Lei Jin no time to react. Instinctively, he curled into a protective ball, hands shielding his belly.

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It was the height of summer, the rainy season in full swing. Stepping outside for a walk, the air felt fresh and moist. The valley was a tapestry of deep and shallow emerald greens, the slopes ablaze with vibrant flowers, all nourished to a state of dripping vitality.

Lei Jin entered his fifth month of pregnancy. Whether due to Hao Chen’s nourishing soups or not, his belly grew visibly day by day. His arms and legs thickened, the hard-earned muscles disappearing. Waking each morning and seeing his changed reflection filled him with a touch of self-disgust.

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Xiya stayed only a few days before receiving a letter delivered by a passing Feather tribesman. The details were unclear, simply urging them to return home. Xiya and Moya wanted to take Lei Jin back with them, but Hao Chen and the others argued that the long journey would be too taxing, especially with twins. So Moya stayed behind while Xiya returned alone to investigate. Before leaving, Xiya lingered, reluctant, sincerely promising to return immediately once the matter was settled, clinging until Lei Jin impatiently snapped at him to leave.

The one who stayed didn’t fare much better. Though Lei Jin had sworn to be on top, his bulky belly made it impractical, and Moya wasn’t particularly cooperative. The result was that Lei Jin still hadn’t succeeded. Yet, the heightened desires of a pregnant female meant he often pestered Moya at night. After some back-and-forth, once satisfied, he’d instinctively relax and allow Moya to take over. His determination to counter-attack faded slightly. But having made the declaration, failing to top at least once felt humiliating. At least, at a crucial moment, he’d forced Moya to promise that after the babies were born, he’d get his turn.

Lei Jin was relentless. They wrestled half the night until he was finally sated. Moya released his waist, touched their still-connected, slick parts, and carefully withdrew while lying on his side. Lei Jin only gave a soft “mmph” before falling into a deep sleep. Moya gently parted his legs to check. Their intimacy had increased recently, and at climax, Lei Jin’s body would tighten exquisitely, soft and warm like water, making Moya lose control. Seeing no injury, he relaxed. He cleaned them both, changed the damp bedding, settled Lei Jin next to Grapes, and covered them. Then he went to the courtyard to wash the soiled blanket. Rain was common at night, so he strung a line under the eaves to hang the clean blanket. 

Back inside, seeing Lei Jin frowning in uneasy sleep, Moya adjusted his position and gently massaged his limbs until his expression smoothed and he relaxed. Moya then lay beside him, catching a little rest. Summer nights were short; dawn soon broke in the east. Hearing Hao Chen preparing breakfast, Moya rose, greeted him, picked up the shoulder pole and buckets by the kitchen door, and headed down the mountain to fetch water.

Most Tiger Tribe houses were built high up, while the only river lay at the valley bottom. Fetching water was a daily necessity for every household. Those halfway up the mountain had it easier; Hao Chen’s family lived at the summit. Without a werebeast, a female carrying water up the steep path daily was no easy task. Jing Yue had moved out after his bonding, and Kun Ge was busy. Moya fetching water solved Hao Chen’s problem. Seeing Moya’s noticeably thinner face, Hao Chen said fondly, “You don’t need to bring so much. We can be frugal. Just stay peacefully. Food is plentiful now; we’re not short a few mouths to feed!” He knew forbidding help entirely would seem distant. Moya spoke little, but his heart was good, and he acted with propriety. Hao Chen grew as fond of him as he was of Xiya, often silently praising their papa for raising such fine sons.

“I’m free in the mornings. Fetching water isn’t tiring,” Moya replied, pouring the water he’d carried into the large stone water vat in the kitchen. After four or five trips, the vat was about eighty percent full.

“Eat more at breakfast. How have you lost so much weight in just a month here? Don’t just focus on the children and Lei Jin,” Hao Chen said, adding firewood to the stove and standing to stir the white porridge in the pot to prevent burning.

Moya naturally agreed to Hao Chen’s kindness, but he still preferred to take advantage of the morning cool to secure the day’s water supply.

Lei Jin knew his recent bad mood and temper had also worn Moya down. He often couldn’t control it. Seeing Moya’s tired face now, he couldn’t help feeling a pang of guilt.

“I can’t eat all this. You have it,” Lei Jin said, picking the untouched meat from his bowl and putting it into Moya’s.

Moya looked up with a soft smile. “I have enough. You eat more. Don’t forget the two little ones.”

Lei Jin touched his own plump face. “Forget it. I’m this fat already; your sons won’t go hungry. Stop worrying needlessly. Just eat.”

The weather was starting to feel hot and dry, dampening everyone’s appetite. Lei Jin taught them a few simple cold dishes: wild vegetables blanched in hot water, mixed with shredded meat, vinegar, and salt. The cool, sour taste was appetizing, popular with both werebeasts and females.

Lei Jin himself just poured soup over his rice, picking mainly at the cold dishes. Knowing Lei Jin’s decisive nature, Moya didn’t refuse the meat.

Over the meal, Jing Ping mentioned that many were already eyeing the unripe rice in the fields. Times had changed; the tribe now knew rice was valuable, not just edible but tasty. As the chief’s family, they couldn’t openly monopolize it.

“What did you grow for food in your fields before?” Lei Jin asked. He hadn’t seen any other staple grains in their house after all this time.

Jing Ping pointed to several red tassels hanging inside the open window of the west wing. “That. Our tribe’s farmland is scarce, just some flat land along the riverbanks after it leaves the valley. Though each family gets several large bundles annually, it doesn’t yield much grain. It never lasts past autumn.”

Lei Jin recognized it as sorghum. He knew sorghum grain was coarse, hard, and low-yielding, nothing compared to rice. After thinking, he suggested, “Why not declare openly that this year’s rice harvest will be shared equally among all families in the tribe? After this harvest, divide the land outright. Then each family can plant what they want. It’s better than everyone scrambling and breeding ill will.” He believed people cared more when things were truly their own; it was human nature.

Moya added an explanation beside him, detailing how the Leopard Tribe had done the same. This year, the tribespeople had prepared their own land much more diligently than before. Having personally overseen the land division, Moya understood the details better than Lei Jin. He explained clearly and logically. Hao Chen and Jing Ping listened, nodding repeatedly, deciding to discuss it with Kun Ge that evening.

Though the mountaintop wasn’t stifling this season, the daytime sun was fierce. Lei Jin rarely ventured out, playing with Grapes in the shade under a tree. A wooden bucket nearby held fresh fruit soaking in cool water, refreshing and thirst-quenching. He knew his limits and didn’t overindulge. Sometimes Berg brought Bubbles, and they’d laugh and play together. Bubbles now called “Dada” smoothly, delighting Lei Jin, who was so charmed by the well-behaved child he almost wanted to whisk him back to the Leopard Tribe.

As for his own son, Lei Jin had a headache. Grapes had been such a sweet baby, but now, a little older, he was becoming a handful. Toys Lei Jin made him were dismantled beyond recognition. Worse, he was a little schemer – sweet and innocent with adults, winning everyone’s affection, but with other children, especially Bubbles, he’d pounce and bully them until they cried. Now, emboldened, he even targeted young werebeast cubs. A few days ago, Hao Chen’s neighbor brought a two-year-old tiger cub over to borrow salt. Unnoticed for a moment, Grapes climbed onto them and pulled out all the cub’s newly grown whiskers. In just over two months, Grapes had gained quite a reputation in the Tiger Tribe. Families with children under three now gave him a wide berth. Lei Jin, by association, enjoyed the ‘privilege’ of a cleared path whenever he went out.

If forced to give an assessment, Lei Jin could only say: Well, better to be the bully than the bullied.

Moya, skinning game nearby, heard his muttering and this conclusion. Knowing it fit Lei Jin’s character perfectly, he couldn’t help a soft chuckle.

Lei Jin, feeling drowsy, drifted off mid-conversation. A gentle breeze brushed the faint smile on his lips. The summer cicadas’ drone carried far. This moment remained vividly clear in Moya’s memory for many years to come.

Grapes tugged at Lei Jin’s leg, stretched his little legs, and wobbled to his feet! But before he steadied himself, he plopped back down on his bottom. His big, round eyes darted around. He wasn’t crying yet, but the moment he met his dad’s concerned gaze, tears streamed down.

Moya quickly washed his hands, picked him up, kissed him, and soothed, “Be good, Grapes, it doesn’t hurt. Look, papa’s asleep.” He thought privately, The speed those tears fall rivals his youngest brother.

An afternoon downpour came and went quickly. Mu Yue and Jing Yue arrived with a large basket of mushrooms and wood ear fungus. “Mushrooms sprout everywhere on the mountain after rain,” they said. “These are commonly eaten, safe ones. We wouldn’t pick any we didn’t recognize.”

It had been over two months since their bonding ceremony. Mu Yue’s belly showed no signs yet, common enough in the tribe and nothing to worry about. But Mu Yue still looked at Lei Jin with envy, pulling him aside several times to seek advice. Lei Jin silently cursed his luck. If he knew the ‘secret,’ he’d wish for the children not to come so quickly! But saying that would earn disbelief. His mischievous streak resurfaced. He adopted a mysterious air, imparting a whole repertoire of elaborate mating positions. Mu Yue listened, blushing furiously, but treasured the advice, going home to diligently try it all. From then on, Mu Yue treated Lei Jin with even greater closeness, confiding everything. Even Jing Yue, though he didn’t say it, felt grateful to Lei Jin. Whenever they had rare delicacies, they always saved a portion for him. This caused a tiny sprout of guilt in Lei Jin; he felt slightly embarrassed. But then he thought: Having babies is all about doing it. Do it enough, and babies come naturally. The nascent guilt was promptly squashed.

As the sun set, cooking smoke rose from chimneys, and the tribe grew lively. Werebeasts returned from work, females busied themselves with dinner, and children played in the streets, their clear, crisp laughter scattering along the paths.

Jing Ping went to the riverside to tan hides. Lei Jin tagged along. Though he disliked his current appearance, he saw no need to hide. In three or four months, he’d be handsome again.

The mountain path was slippery, but he felt steady enough not to need support, carefully holding onto trees by the path. He didn’t dare carry Grapes, leaving him with Moya.

Tanning hides looked simple – just repeated rubbing and beating – but it was laborious. Many females were already working by the river, many tanned hides hanging to dry in ventilated, shady spots.

Other females washed baskets of brown alpaca wool. Spun into yarn, it made warm, lightweight clothes for spring and autumn. Lei Jin owned one, so he knew. He easily struck up conversations. Just as he pondered how to ask for some material in exchange, a loud commotion erupted from the mountain path. A female carrying water had fallen from halfway up the slope. Word spread he was badly injured, already carried to the healer.

Later, Mu Yue told Lei Jin the female had hit his head and couldn’t be saved. Knowing Moya fetched water every morning for Hao Chen’s family, though he understood it was a necessary task, the day’s events filled him with worry. Ai, backward places have so many problems.

Lei Jin walked back, head down, deep in thought. Digging a well seemed a good idea, but he knew nothing about surveying terrain. He couldn’t just dig a hole anywhere! Absorbed in his thoughts, he looked up and found himself at the northern cliff edge. This was the easternmost point of the Tiger Tribe. From here, the cliff dropped smoothly, not particularly high. Below, the river entered the valley. Perhaps due to lack of disturbance, the vegetation was exceptionally lush. White calla lilies bloomed quietly along both banks. Frustrated, he kicked several small stones off the edge. Plop, plop – they fell into the river. He then waddled his cumbersome body home with renewed energy. The water problem could be solved. Well, a smart person’s brain just worked a little faster, that’s all.

“Lei Jin, you’re amazing! Now all the females in the tribe can fetch water easily!” Jing Ping exclaimed as soon as he entered, carrying a bucket of water. “And the water from that part of the river is very clean!”

The principle was simple. They cut trees to make several large pulleys, and secured them with stones. One person filled the bucket below; another turned the rope above. Alternatively, tie the bucket to one end of a rope and a heavy stone to the other. When the stone went down, the bucket came up. Either method was far easier and safer than carrying water up the mountain.

Lei Jin was now six months along. The babies moved frequently, treating their father’s belly like a battlefield, staging daily martial arts performances. Xiya hadn’t returned. Moya mentioned it might concern the matter of the chieftain succession. “Before I left, Uncle An Bu… hinted that once Mura has his bonding ceremony, Uncle Zhu Xi would probably move in with Mura. He likely doesn’t want to be chief anymore either.”

“What is he going to do?” Lei Jin asked. He didn’t know what happened in the past, and it was not easy to speak for anyone, but An Bu seemed to be a really good person. “I don’t know about this either.” In any case, he stood on the side of his papa.

This matter was not something they could solve, so they stopped talking about it.

Lei Jin’s belly suddenly moved.

Moya reached in and touched Lei Jin’s belly with a worshipful look, feeling the movement underneath, and smiled childishly. “Lei Jin, they are moving, moving.” Now they could really feel that their babies lived in Lei Jin’s belly.

Lei Jin rolled his eyes at him and said lazily, “They’re alive, of course they move.” Only at this moment did he feel that no matter how mature Moya looked, his young age was indeed a fact and could not be erased. He sighed belatedly, thinking that he was also an old cow eating tender grass, wasn’t he?

Moya kissed the swollen belly through the thin clothes and said, “This time it should be two little werebeasts, so energetic.”

Lei Jin glanced at his belly with a little fear. There wouldn’t really be two little leopards coming out of him, would there? The shock would be too great. If they were werebeasts, they would be out in about two months, or maybe even shorter.

When he was pregnant with Grapes, Moya was not able to accompany him at that time. This time, seeing the babies in his belly grow day by day with his own eyes, the experience felt novel and exciting. Lei Jin was restless, and he understood, and did not take his own exhaustion to heart.

Lei Jin’s body was sensitive, and his chest was sore and swollen. After being kissed and rubbed by him for so long, his waist had already softened. He pressed Moya’s head to his crotch and whispered, “Help me come.”

“We are outside now, aren’t you afraid of being seen?” Although Moya said so, a smile appeared on his face. Because Lei Jin always said that staying at home every day was boring, today, when he came out hunting he took him along as well. After lunch, the two found a cool and dry place to lay down in the forest.

“Just be quiet.” It seemed inappropriate to perform in front of people. It should be very inappropriate actually!

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Moya only pushed down his pants, but the hem of his shirt was lifted up to his chest. Lei Jin’s originally slender legs were slightly swollen, but he felt that they were still very tempting. He started to caress and kiss them inch by inch from the ankles.

That place was clearly visible in the sunlight. Moya spread it apart and inserted a finger, whispering teasingly, “When I first saw you, I wanted to tear off your clothes and put it in here.”

Lei Jin panted and raised his eyebrows provocatively, “Then come on.”

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“Xiya, you’re here?” Jing Ping looked up, also surprised to see the newcomer.

Xiya was staring dumbstruck at Lei Jin’s belly and didn’t even hear Jing Ping. Only when the wooden bowl hit him did he snap back to reality. A flicker of joy crossed his face, but it was quickly overshadowed by disbelief. He stood there stunned for a long moment before finally blurting out the most infuriating question possible, “Lei Jin, how did you put on so much weight?”

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Lei Jin was already deeply unhappy seeing his drastically changed body shape every day. Now, one of the culprits dared to “criticize” him? He felt both humiliated and furious. He clenched his fists, wishing he had something handy to throw and smash that stupid head.

“Eldest Brother, Lei Jin is pregnant,” Moya said, entering behind Xiya carrying a pile of things. He answered with a faint smile. When Lei Jin had asked him before, he’d suspected but hadn’t dared to hope too much. While conception rates were high with beast form mating, it wasn’t guaranteed in one go. But seeing Lei Jin like this now, there was no room for doubt.

Hearing this, Xiya was ecstatic. He rushed forward in a few strides, wrapping his arms around Lei Jin and laughing. “Really? You’re really pregnant? Why didn’t you tell us? And you came all this way by yourself!”

Lei Jin’s face darkened. He pushed at Xiya’s shoulders, snapping, “Get off! Get away from me!” Complaining he was fat the moment he walked in! As if he wanted to look like this! If it weren’t for the seeds they planted, he wouldn’t be able to gain weight even if he tried!

Xiya, usually sharp-witted, was momentarily blinded by the joyous news and completely failed to realize he’d hit Lei Jin’s sore spot. He thought Lei Jin was just angry they were late. He explained, “After the fair ended, we were busy planting rice, then came the group hunt. We thought you were fine here with Uncle Hao Chen and Jing Ping looking after you, that’s why we came late. If we’d known you were pregnant, we’d have come immediately!”

This explanation only made Lei Jin angrier. He sneered, “Oh, so you only come if there’s a baby? If there isn’t, you don’t bother coming, is that it?” He knew this was pure picking a fight. He knew Xiya absolutely didn’t mean it that way. But every time he saw his ever-growing belly, thought about the two little lives inside, even he, strong as he was, couldn’t help feeling a bit panicked. He just wanted someone by his side. Hao Chen was wonderful, but he couldn’t replace them. And what did they do? Not a single one came! He didn’t believe his threatening note was that effective, scaring them off completely.

Xiya wisely shut up, finally realizing that talking more would only make things worse. He shot a pleading look towards Moya, who was unloading the baggage. His mind was so full of joy he couldn’t think straight.

Moya nodded. He put the things he was carrying down by the wall and crouched beside Lei Jin’s recliner. He took Lei Jin’s hand, his thin lips curving into a pleasant smile. “Are the little ones being naughty and tiring you out? It’s our fault for not being here with you at a time like this.” Lei Jin’s temper yielded to softness, not force. Explanations were useless now; the only right path was a decisive apology. Eldest Brother had been a bit too overwhelmed by the surprise.

Prompted, Xiya immediately understood. He instantly adopted a pitiful expression, like a child who’d done wrong, apologizing profusely and acting meek, almost pulling out Mingya’s entire repertoire of cuteness.

Lei Jin glared at them, furious. But he pressed his lips together and ultimately didn’t pursue the topic. Xiya and Moya inwardly breathed a sigh of relief; they knew the storm had passed.

Jing Ping watched from the side, stifling laughter. He’d seen Moya a few times; though he didn’t know him well, he seemed aloof. Xiya he knew a bit better – a clever schemer, usually projecting an image of a brave and intelligent werebeast. How did these two become so utterly obedient and soft-spoken the moment they faced Lei Jin? And they didn’t even bother hiding it in front of outsiders! Generally, werebeasts, no matter how much they pampered their mates at home, would save face in front of others.

But this… was truly enviable. He’d have someone like that someday too. So he wouldn’t be jealous anymore.

Hao Chen returned, his basket filled with fresh summer greens, wild vegetables, and fruits. Seeing guests at home, he called for Jing Ping to fetch his father, Kun Ge, for the meal. Xiya, with his smooth tongue, was genuinely likable, and now seeing Moya, Hao Chen also thought well of him.

Having stayed with them for over a month, Lei Jin felt it was only right not to come empty-handed. But the weather was warming up. Even flying quickly from the Leopard tribe took nearly half a month. Xiya and Moya hadn’t dared to bring perishables this time. Instead, they brought items from home that were both useful and novel to others, and less likely to spoil: wheat flour, cornmeal, soy sauce, vinegar, and soybean oil. Hao Chen and Jing Ping looked at them with curiosity and decided to try them out for lunch right away. Xiya, calling “Uncle Hao Chen” repeatedly, followed him into the kitchen to help. Berg took Grapes and Bubbles to the river for a bath. Bubbles, still young, needed to swim in the water for comfort on hot days. The courtyard was left to Moya and Lei Jin.

“And Mingya?” Lei Jin asked. Either no one comes, or two show up at once. He wondered how the one left at home was doing.

“His leg still needs regular medicine application, so he didn’t come this time,” Moya replied. A large bowl of fresh fruit rested on his lap. He peeled them as he spoke, feeding pieces to Lei Jin. “Besides, he’s very busy right now.”

“His leg injury isn’t healed yet! What’s he busy messing around with?” Lei Jin frowned. The moment he wasn’t around, Mingya wouldn’t rest properly.

“You’ll know when you get back,” Moya said, keeping his lips sealed. Mingya was busy tending to the grapevines Lei Jin had transplanted late spring. He treated them like treasures, insisting on doing everything himself, not letting anyone else help. He was eagerly waiting for them to bear grapes for Lei Jin.

“Don’t worry about it. Mingya is fine. Have a couple more,” Moya said, feeding him another piece. “Then I’ll put them away; it’s almost lunchtime.”

Lei Jin obediently opened his mouth. Being waited on was comfortable; why make things hard for himself? Besides, most of what he ate went to nourish their sons. Might as well eat it. The more he thought about it, the more justified he felt.

Moya watched him lazily chewing the fruit, eyes half-closed, and smiled silently. Pregnancy had made his whole body rounder and softer. Seeing no one else around, Moya leaned in as he offered another piece, his lips brushing Lei Jin’s. Since entering the fourth month, Lei Jin had felt an intense physical emptiness. Angry they hadn’t come, he’d deliberately ignored the need. Now that his anger had subsided, his body offered no resistance. He hooked his arms around Moya’s neck and whispered a promise. “We’ll continue tonight.”

Hearing Lei Jin take the initiative was rare. Moya’s hand trembled; he almost lost control. Thankfully, he heard footsteps approaching outside just in time and managed to sit back, pretending nothing had happened.

Lei Jin hadn’t missed his reaction. Seeing Moya now acting all prim and proper, Lei Jin felt mischievous. He leaned slightly to the side, grabbing Moya’s collar playfully. “Come here, let me kiss you again.”

Kun Ge and Jing Ping walked in just in time to hear that sentence. Their steps faltered slightly. They’d never seen such a proactive female.

Lei Jin obviously saw them too. He half-rose with a smile to greet them, reluctantly letting go of Moya. But finding any trace of embarrassment on that face would require a miracle.

Lunch was a lively affair with the whole family, plus Grapes and Bubbles, gathered around the stone table in the courtyard. The commotion was such that even passersby couldn’t help peeking in. Lei Jin was in excellent spirits today. The food, seasoned with the new ingredients, tasted great, so he ate half a bowl more than usual. After the meal, he even carried Grapes to see Berg and Bubbles off. But upon returning, he felt drowsy and slept straight through until dinnertime. After eating a little, he felt much more awake.

Lei Jin had just bathed, wearing only one of Hao Chen’s loose tunics. He stroked his stretched-taut belly. This plump, round figure really couldn’t be called attractive; it was even a bit ugly. But they’d better not dare complain.

When they quickly took off their clothes and jumped onto the bed, Lei Jin saw that their lower halves were already sticking out and knew that he had indeed overthought.

The three of them had been together more than once or twice, and they naturally cooperated well. Moya leaned on the head of the bed to protect Lei Jin’s waist at all times, letting him kneel on him.

Lei Jin wrapped his arms around Moya’s neck and lowered his head to kiss him intensely while his hole was explored by Xiya’s fingers. Perhaps because of the pregnancy, it was particularly sensitive. Before Xiya even moved a few times, he felt how his walls became numb and twitchy, his knees trembling, and he could only hold Moya tightly, panting, and rubbing his erection against his lower abdomen, making both of them burn up in arousal.

Moya pressed him on his body, reached down and pinched the cherry red on his chest, and laughed hoarsely. “Don’t worry, we’ll satisfy you right away.”

Lei Jin snorted and urged the person behind him. “Xiya, can you do it or not? If not, let someone else do it.”

Xiya wiped the sweat from his head. It wasn’t like he didn’t want to be quick? He was afraid of hurting their child. He rubbed Lei Jin’s buttocks hard and said, “Don’t beg me to stop later.”

Lei Jin smiled indifferently. “As long as you are willing to give up your sons.”

Xiya instinctively retorted, “It’s a son, not sons. Grapes is still in Uncle Hao Chen’s room.” After saying that, he stopped and confirmed with an excited look, “Lei Jin, you mean… you mean… are there two babies in your belly?” He had only heard of such things, but had never seen them.

Moya also looked at him expectantly.

Lei Jin felt that he had whetted their appetite, so he slowly nodded and admitted.

“It’s really two?!” Xiya exclaimed in delight.

Lei Jin was hugged by two pairs of arms in front and behind him. He struggled for a while and said, “Keep your voices down. Uncle Hao Chen and the others are not asleep yet.” Jing Yue built a new house before the ceremony and moved out. They were now staying in Jing Yue’s old room, very close to Hao Chen and the others.

“I was just thinking that this time the belly is much bigger than when we had Grapes. You were more than four months along yet it was not very obvious. This time it is so obvious.” Moya murmured while touching Lei Jin’s belly.

“Are you going to do it or not?” He was so aroused yet he couldn’t relieve himself and didn’t want to chat anymore.

Xiya hesitated and struggled for a while, and finally remembered that he was a father, so he discussed, “Or, let’s not do it. You have two babies now, and your body is heavier. What if you get hurt?”

Lei Jin was angry. He was teased for such a long time, and was practically left wanting now? But he gritted his teeth and said, “Fine, you guys go to sleep.” He turned over and lay on his back naked on the bed, bent his legs, reached between them and held and stroked himself. With half closed eyes, he gasped in pleasure.

At this point, how could the two of them maintain their rationality? They immediately moved close with no more thoughts.

Xiya held Lei Jin’s thighs, making him sit with his back to his chest, and entered him slowly and forcefully from behind.

Maybe because he was pregnant, his entrance was particularly soft and moist. Lei Jin almost didn’t feel any pain and swallowed Xiya’s member completely. The tight pressure made him groan. Moya also leaned over and swallowed his member. Lei Jin sighed with satisfaction, and his slightly tense body completely relaxed. He took the initiative to twist his heavy waist to get more pleasure.

“Lei Jin, go slower.” This time it was Xiya who begged. Being tightly wrapped by Lei Jin’s inner walls, it was difficult for him to maintain his sanity. And now Lei Jin was even moving and grinding against him. If he hadn’t needed to take into account the two babies inside, he would have already started thrusting hard.

“Ngh… Xiya… hurry up… ah… Moya…” Lei Jin leaned forward and supported himself with his hands on Moya’s shoulders.

Hao Chen remembered that he had to give Lei Jin an extra meal in the evening, otherwise he would wake up hungry when he fell asleep. But just as he walked to the door, he heard Lei Jin panting and moaning, “Ah… Moya… right there… deeper…”

The faint sounds of the lovemaking inside made Hao Chen, who was already familiar with this, blush a little. However, the werebeast tribes did not have so many rules. He thought it was good for young people to be so energetic and enthusiastic. After all, they were his mates, not anyone else. But he still had to eat, and Hao Chen, as an elder, did not have much embarrassment. He knocked on the window directly and called, “Lei Jin, don’t forget to drink this bowl of soup later.”

Sure enough, there was a moment of silence inside, and Xiya immediately said, “We know, thank you Uncle Hao Chen, I’ll go out and get it.”

Lei Jin was kneeling naked, holding the head of the bed while Moya gripped his waist and hips, pulling out and pushing in again and again until he entered the deepest part and came, hot cum causing the silken walls to squeeze and flutter. When Xiya returned to the room, the rhythm had slowed down, and the sticky liquid flowed out and stained the lower bodies of the two.

Seeing this, Xiya tasted a mouthful of soup and came to Lei Jin and smiled, “It’s wild vegetable soup, it’s just the right temperature now, do you want to drink it?”

Lei Jin raised his hand and slapped him on the head. Asking him if he wanted to drink the soup at this time, he had to have the strength to drink the soup in the first place. Xiya was deliberately looking for trouble.

“Or, Moya, you hold him and I’ll feed him.” Xiya was thick-skinned and only grinned wickedly.

“What do you two want to do?” Lei Jin collapsed on the bed with no strength, pretending to be fierce.

But the next moment, Moya took advantage of his unpreparedness, spread his legs and hugged him in his arms. That thick hardness penetrated him completely to the brim, and then he could only rock up and down slightly with the movements from the person behind him.

“I’m going to feed you, open your mouth.” Xiya smiled at him, took a mouthful of soup in his mouth, and passed it to Lei Jin’s mouth with his own.

That night, Lei Jin was fed a whole bowl of soup in such an unforgettable way.

Things went smoothly until the bath. Just before the three of them lay down to sleep, Lei Jin’s slightly hoarse voice sounded, saying, “Next time, I will be on top. If you don’t agree, don’t even think about getting on my bed. Also, don’t try to fool me with changing positions. I know more than you do.”

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

With that announcement, he fell asleep. After thoroughly being satisfied, every pore was refreshed from inside to outside. As for whether the other two could sleep, it was not his consideration at all. They were getting bolder and bolder, and dared to gang up to tease him. If he didn’t teach them a lesson, they would get a big head.

Originally, he thought he would start with Mingya, but he didn’t expect these two to jump in front of the gun. However, their bodies were the types he liked, so no matter which one he started with, he really didn’t care. Lei Jin fell asleep while thinking about it. After all, he had just exercised for so long. Fortunately, this pregnant man could still hold on until now.

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