When Lin Xi and Wu Chen returned from the forest, they noticed the tribe had suddenly become much livelier than it was in the morning.
Perched on Wu Chen’s back, Lin Xi watched the Beastmen rushing back to the tribe. Their Beast forms ranged from tigers, leopards, wolves, and bears to rabbits, sheep, cattle, and horses. Though she recognized them all, each one was two to three times larger than the animals she had known in her previous world!
Most of these massive Beastmen carried prey in their mouths.
It seemed the hunting parties had all returned!
Lin Xi lowered her gaze and pressed herself closer to Wu Chen’s back, almost lying flat against him.
While she observed the Beastmen, she also felt their eyes on her.
Some gazes were friendly, others not so much, but the intimidating presence of these predatory forms instinctively frightened her.
Moreover, she could sense an underlying aggression in those stares.
She recalled Bai Nu’s final words to Wu Chen when she first arrived at the tribe: “Guard your Female beast well.” What did that mean?
She wasn’t a fool.
This world was far more primitive, and she doubted these Beastmen adhered to modern moral constraints about not pursuing someone already in a relationship.
Wu Chen, beneath her, sensed Lin Xi’s unease. He quickened his pace, returning to the cave. After ensuring Lin Xi was safely inside, he positioned his large frame to block the entrance and scanned the hillside below.
He immediately noticed that many more Beastmen had come to the Mo Gan River today to clean their prey.
His long tail swished sharply a couple of times before he withdrew into the cave.
Inside, Lin Xi was organizing the food they had gathered that day.
She sorted and piled each type of food separately. After reviewing them, she suddenly lost her appetite for stir-fried dishes.
She decided to try the Black bug fruit today.
She wanted to see if boiling it would give it a taste similar to sweet potatoes!
When Wu Chen heard Lin Xi wanted to cook something, he volunteered to fetch water.
Coincidentally, Lin Xi had no desire to go outside either—there were simply too many Beastmen out there now. Though it might sound conceited, it truly felt like they were all there because of her.
She didn’t want to be the center of attention.
Squatting in front of the Little Sweet Fruits placed on the ground, Lin Xi popped two into her mouth. The sweet flavor spread, easing her tense nerves.
However, her peace lasted less than a minute before an unfamiliar voice sounded behind her: “Lin Xi?”
“Gah!”
Startled by the sudden voice in her quiet space, Lin Xi jumped to her feet, instinctively adopting a defensive stance.
She then saw a Beastman with striking red hair standing behind her.
Staring at his face, Lin Xi couldn’t help but pause.
Honestly, he was quite handsome—in a different way from Wu Chen’s rugged good looks.
Moreover, unlike Wu Chen’s sun-tanned skin, this Beastman had a fair complexion.
Noticing the little Female beast’s assessing gaze, a flicker of amusement shone in Hu Cong’s beautiful eyes. “I’m Hu Cong.”
“Uh… hello.”
Snapped back to reality by his words, Lin Xi managed a stiff greeting. Remembering something, she pointed toward the cave entrance. “If you’re looking for Wu Chen, he went to the river.”
“No, I’m here for you.”
When Lin Xi mentioned Wu Chen, a flicker of displeasure flashed in Hu Cong’s eyes, but he concealed it quickly. “Little female beast, this grey chicken is for you.”
He extended the lifeless prey toward Lin Xi. Following his hand, she saw he was holding a grey… chicken?
So, it really was a grey… chicken?
Bemused by the animal’s name, Lin Xi’s lips twitched involuntarily. She took a step back and looked at Hu Cong. “Thank you, but no need. I have food.”
She wasn’t naive enough to casually accept food from others—who knew if it carried some special meaning here!
Hu Cong had anticipated rejection, having overheard the little female beast’s conversation with Bai Nu that morning.
But he still wanted to try.
After all, he had encountered the little female beast first in the forest, yet in the blink of an eye, Wu Chen had snatched her away!
Though he was the normal beastman, Wu Chen had always overshadowed him since childhood—even the female beast he fancied was taken from him!
How could he accept this!
He maintained a perfectly harmless smile. “Don’t be afraid, I won’t harm you.”
As he spoke, he placed the grey chicken on the ground and spread his hands. “Actually, I was nearby when Wu Chen rescued you yesterday.”
Hearing this, Lin Xi looked up at him in surprise.
Seeing her reaction, Hu Cong continued, “Wu Chen and I both fell for you, so, Xi Xi, I want to be your mate.”
Then, his eyes glinting, he suddenly added, “Even sharing you with Wu Chen is fine.”
Lin Xi listened expressionlessly.
She had already learned from Wu Chen about beastmen’s mating customs—due to the scarcity of female beasts, some partnerships in the tribe were one female with one male, while others involved one female with multiple males.
When Wu Chen explained this, Lin Xi clearly sensed the tension in his words.
But she didn’t overthink it.
For someone lazy like her, investing effort in another person was already exhausting enough.
She certainly wouldn’t go looking for extra trouble.
So she looked at Hu Cong and shook her head seriously. “Thank you, but I’ve already accepted Wu Chen. I have no intention of changing mates, nor of taking a second one.”
After speaking, Lin Xi didn’t look at Hu Chen again. She quickly walked past him and exited the cave.
She had never been good at handling such situations, and could only hope Wu Chen would return soon.
Perhaps her wish was granted—the moment she stepped out of the cave, she encountered Wu Chen rushing up the path, carrying the cleaned fruit shell pot and stone slab.
“Xi Xi.”
Wu Chen called her name, but his sharp gaze was fixed behind Lin Xi.
Inside the cave, Hu Cong stared back with a stiff expression, though a bright smile instantly spread across his face the moment Lin Xi glanced back.
“Hu Cong, what are you doing?”
Hearing Wu Chen’s question, Hu Cong smiled at him. “Wu Chen, you and Xi Xi haven’t formally mate-bonded yet. You have no right to stop me from pursuing her.”
He hadn’t forgotten the humiliation of being beaten down by Wu Chen that night.
At this point, even Hu Cong himself didn’t know whether his desire to mate-bond with the little female beast stemmed more from genuine affection for Xi Xi, or from wanting to steal Wu Chen’s partner and give him another reason to be mocked.
“Xi Xi won’t agree. She’s already decided to form a mate-bond with me.”
Wu Chen wasn’t provoked by Hu Cong’s words. On the contrary, his rebuttal was even more resolute.
But his utterly confident demeanor made Hu Cong grit his teeth.
How could he be so certain!
He was just a crippled beast. Wasn’t it perfectly normal for a female beast to abandon him?