Lin Xi accepted Wu Chen’s mate-bond proposal—a decision that resolved a major life event for both the human and the beastman!
After all, having a beloved partner to spend their lives with and being able to continue surviving in this unfamiliar world were equally crucial to them.
The heavy rain ceased by midnight.
Early the next morning, just as dawn broke, Lin Xi was awakened by a pressing need to urinate.
The fire outside had died out, and behind her lay a massive black panther. Its thick fur and imposing stature blocked the chilly wind completely.
Lin Xi’s subtle movements as she dressed still roused the sleeping Wu Chen. He shifted back to human form, first touching her forehead to confirm her fever had subsided before feeling relieved and starting to prepare breakfast.
For beastmen, breakfast naturally meant roasted meat.
Lin Xi chewed the grilled bear meat with difficulty. The meat was fatty, and after just two bites, she began to feel greasy.
Even so, Lin Xi felt quite content.
At least the meat was cooked and seasoned, easing her earlier worries about salt intake.
After breakfast, she packed her belongings and walked over to Wu Chen, who had already transformed back into his beast form. With effort, she climbed onto his back.
The beastman’s beast form was far larger than a normal wild animal. Lying on the black panther’s back, Lin Xi felt that even if she spread her limbs out, she wouldn’t easily fall off!
The wind whistled past her ears as they raced along. Lin Xi sank into the panther’s soft fur, catching glimpses of the forest scenery rapidly receding in her peripheral vision.
Finally, after over two hours of continuous running, Wu Chen began to slow down.
Curious, Lin Xi lifted her head to look ahead and knew at a glance that they had likely arrived.
It appeared to be a sizable tribe, nestled at the foot of a towering mountain on the western edge of the forest. The mountainside was dotted with numerous caves, likely serving as dwellings for the tribe’s beastmen. Besides these caves, scattered across the open ground below were triangular and rectangular shacks, suggesting that the beastmen’s living arrangements weren’t limited to just one style.
As Lin Xi pondered, she carefully observed the tribe’s layout. After all, this might be where she would spend the rest of her life, so she needed to understand the situation as quickly as possible.
At the outermost edge of the beastmen’s settlement, a figure suddenly appeared on a high platform built with a stone foundation and wooden structure.
He first glanced at the two figures in the distance, then leaped down from the platform. In an instant, his arms transformed into massive wings. With a powerful flap, he shifted from human to a goshawk and swiftly flew toward the largest wooden shack deep within the tribe:
“Chieftain Bai Nu, Wu Chen has returned! And he’s brought a female beast with him!”
Cang Ju landed outside Bai Nu’s shack to deliver the report. After a brief wait, the animal hide covering the doorway was pushed aside, and a young beastman with white hair and a robust build emerged. “Let’s go see.”
As he spoke, the beastman leaned forward, his tanned skin sprouting dense fur. In the blink of an eye, a giant white tiger burst forth from where he had stood and dashed away!
Bai Nu went directly to the cave where Wu Chen lived. When he arrived, Wu Chen had just reached the outside of the cave carrying Lin Xi on his back, followed by a few Beastmen who had come along out of curiosity.
Lin Xi slid down from Wu Chen’s back and first glanced at the cave before her. Its depth was not visible from the outside, but the entrance was quite low, making it convenient for her to enter and exit.
Then her gaze fell upon the suddenly appearing giant white tiger. This white tiger was even larger and more robust than Wu Chen’s leopard form. Its white mane rustled in the wind, the muscles on its limbs taut, giving it a majestic appearance. A pair of golden eyes were fixed on her.
Noticing her gaze, the white tiger suddenly spoke: “I am Bai Nu, the leader of the Mountain Fire Tribe. Female beast, what is your name? What beast tribe do you belong to?”
Lin Xi was taken aback. Instead of answering immediately, she first turned to look at Wu Chen, who had already shifted into human form beside her. Seeing him nod, she replied, “My name is Lin Xi. As for my beast tribe… I am human.”
“Human?” Bai Nu’s tone was just as puzzled as Wu Chen’s had been initially. Before Lin Xi could explain, Wu Chen answered for her: “Xi Xi got lost in the forest from a very distant place. She doesn’t remember much herself.”
“Doesn’t remember…”
Bai Nu murmured, his golden eyes fixed on Wu Chen with a hidden meaning in their depths.
Wu Chen met his gaze unflinchingly. After a long moment, Bai Nu finally looked away. “So, what now? Little female beast, do you wish to join our tribe?”
“If possible.” Lin Xi had gradually relaxed from her initial unease in this unfamiliar environment. Hearing Bai Nu’s question, she looked back at him with a serious expression:
“I’ve already agreed to form a mate-bond with Wu Chen. If the tribe agrees, I will live here with him.”
It was a perfectly ordinary statement, but to Lin Xi’s surprise, as soon as she finished speaking, murmurs immediately arose from the group of Beastmen who had followed them.
Frowning, she looked over, unable to understand what they found so surprising.
It was then that Bai Nu provided the answer: “Are you certain you want to choose Wu Chen? Wu Chen is merely a Crippled beast. Besides incomplete physical evolution, Crippled beasts have the weakness of poor self-control.”
“Of course, Wu Chen is an exception among the few—his self-control is quite good. But that doesn’t change the fact that he is a Crippled beast.”
After speaking, Bai Nu gave Wu Chen a meaningful glance before continuing to Lin Xi, “You can form a mate-bond with other Beastmen and still remain in the Mountain Fire Tribe. Would you like to choose a better beast companion?”
Lin Xi was stunned. She never expected that the Beastmen leader would have a penchant for matchmaking…
But what she disliked even more were Bai Nu’s disparaging remarks about Wu Chen. Her inherently protective nature made her unable to resist retorting, “But Wu Chen is strong. Didn’t you just say his self-control is good?”
This time, it was Bai Nu’s turn to be taken aback. Watching Lin Xi’s furrowed brow, a strange light flickered in his eyes, and he suddenly chuckled lightly. “So?”
“So,” Lin Xi glanced at Wu Chen without hesitation, “So, I choose Wu Chen.”
Wu Chen was the first Beastman she had encountered in this world, and he had saved her.
Call it imprinting if you will, or say she’s timid and introverted—compared to certain Beastmen whose gazes were a bit too fervent, the Wu Chen by her side gave her a greater sense of security!
After all, Wu Chen had already saved her once when they were strangers, and he could provide her with a greater sense of security. Moreover, she wouldn’t have to go through the trouble of getting to know another unfamiliar Beastman all over again!
“Alright.”
This time, Bai Nu responded swiftly. He glanced at Wu Chen with a smile and said, “In that case, Wu Chen, you should quickly prepare the hunting offerings. In a few days, you and Bai Su’s group will hold the Mate-bond ceremony together. However, before that, make sure to protect your little Female beast well.”
Bai Nu’s final remark carried a meaningful tone.
Wu Chen nodded solemnly at him, then promptly scooped Lin Xi into his arms and swiftly carried her back to his cave.
The intense gazes from outside the cave made him deeply uncomfortable.
Soon, both of their figures vanished into the depths of the cave. The Beastmen outside gradually dispersed, leaving only a young woman with fiery red long hair and snow-white skin sitting on a tree branch not far away. She slowly withdrew her gaze.
Looking down at the Beastman beneath the tree, her eyes flickered as she spoke in a soft voice, “So, she’s the one you mentioned?”
Under the tree stood Hu Cong, who shared her hair color but had short-cropped hair.
Hu Cong rose to his feet, stretching lazily before nodding, “Mm-hmm!”
“She is indeed quite beautiful, but compared to Hua Cai and Bai Xue, she’s still far behind!”
Hu Mei swung her legs gently, her gaze fixed in the direction of the cave as she commented, “But she’s not bad. If you like her, why not compete with Wu Chen for her?”
Hearing this, Hu Cong chuckled. He looked up at his sister, his fox-like eyes gleaming with amusement, “You’re telling me to compete—why don’t you go after Wu Chen yourself?”
Hu Mei was taken aback!
After a moment’s pause, she replied nonchalantly, “He doesn’t like me, and it’s not like I don’t have male Beastmen interested in me!”
With that, she leaped down from the tree and said to Hu Cong, “I’m heading back. Good luck with your competition!”