Niu Shou Mountain, Bianye Tribe. Life flourished everywhere, filled with the air of spring.
At the highest point of Niu Shou Mountain stood a woman in a light-blue silk dress. A gentle breeze stirred, causing her skirt to flutter.
Her slender, willow-leaf brows were slightly furrowed, betraying a hint of melancholy, but even this did not detract from her beauty in the slightest.
It was clear from her belly that she had been pregnant for some time.
"System, are you sure this pregnancy is fine? I feel like it’s absorbing my life force, and it’s gotten more aggressive recently."
"I’ve said from the very beginning that giving birth is entirely beneficial for you, with no drawbacks. Please trust the system, Host."
Chu Liangyu fell silent for a long moment, habitually stroking her belly. The light in her eyes was dim, her expression unreadable. "How many pregnancies has it been?"
"It should be... the 101st."
’Right. So many pregnancies, even the system isn’t sure anymore.’
Chu Liangyu closed her eyes. She was weary of this. She didn’t want to give birth anymore.
She opened her mouth to speak, but after fifteen years of this, she knew the system’s nature all too well.
The system would never let her go.
’Unless... I die and lose the ability to bear children.’
"Female Master, the wind is strong on the mountain. For your health, please come back with me."
The man was dressed in well-fitted animal skins. With his thick brows, large eyes, deep-set features, broad shoulders, and narrow waist, he was, without a doubt, a man of exceptional beauty.
His voice was incredibly gentle, as if he were afraid of startling her.
But his gaze was fixed more on Chu Liangyu’s belly. Chu Liangyu lowered her eyes. She was long used to it.
Cang Yu was a member of the nearly extinct Green Dragon Clan, so the chance to produce an heir was something he cherished deeply.
He wouldn’t say he loved Chu Liangyu, but he was fond of her and found her pleasing to the eye.
What he cared about more was the child in her belly. As long as she successfully carried this pregnancy to term, the Green Dragon Clan would have hope again and would not go extinct with his generation.
"If you say so, let’s head back then."
The corners of Chu Liangyu’s lips lifted into a gentle smile, but her tone was odd.
Cang Yu didn’t notice. He reached out, wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and began walking slowly down the mountain.
"Where are the others?"
"Oh, them? They’re all busy hunting and looking after their own cubs."
"Are you envious?"
Cang Yu nodded. "Seeing them so exhausted, yet finding joy in it... I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t envious."
"But I’ll have my own cub soon, so I won’t need to envy them anymore."
’Twelve Beast Husbands. Even if they weren’t all ethereally handsome, they were certainly the finest specimens among the Beastmen.’
’When it came to handsome men, the system had never short-changed her.’
’But what good was that? All any of them cared about were the pieces of flesh that came from her body.’
’I can’t understand what these Beastmen are thinking. So what if their clan is noble? When it’s time to go extinct, they should just obey the laws of nature. This is just a temporary reprieve. What’s the point?’
"Besides the one in my belly, only Yu Tu is left without a cub. After we get back... have him come see me."
Cang Yu’s brows knitted together, and his tone was hesitant. "Female Master, I know you can carry the cubs of two different clans at once, but I can sense that this pregnancy will consume a great deal of your strength. Why don’t we wait until this one is born?"
Chu Liangyu watched him quietly. ’So Cang Yu has also noticed that my energy is being absorbed and devoured by the cubs.’
When Chu Liangyu didn’t answer, Cang Yu couldn’t help but ask again, "Female Master?"
"I’m afraid that won’t work." Chu Liangyu tilted her head, motioning for him to look behind them.
At some point, Yu Tu had appeared, sitting in a tree behind them. He had a nonchalant air about him, but his body was tense.
His golden pupils had become vertical slits, fixed on Cang Yu.
White Tigers and the Green Dragon Clan were natural rivals. After hearing that, it was hard for Yu Tu not to let his mind run wild.
"Cang Yu, the Female Master isn’t afraid of a little hardship for the sake of our White Tiger Clan’s continuation. What do you mean by that? Are you trying to start a war?"
"You’ve misunderstood. I’m just concerned for the Female Master’s health."
Hearing his hypocritical words, Yu Tu scoffed and exposed him without mercy. "Concerned for the Female Master’s health? You’re just worried about your own unborn cub."
"Or maybe... you don’t want our White Tiger Clan to thrive and multiply."
"That’s right. Our White Tiger Clan already has more members than yours. If we keep reproducing, when will the Green Dragon Clan ever have a chance to rise again?"
Cang Yu’s fists, hanging at his sides, clenched tightly. His tone was imperious. "So what if it is? And so what if it isn’t? Can you beat me in a fight?"
It was no wonder Cang Yu was so blunt. When it came to pure strength, Yu Tu truly was no match for him.
Otherwise, Cang Yu wouldn’t have been the one to father a cub first. Might makes right, and Yu Tu could only swallow his anger.
"Cang Yu, the cubs are saying they’re hungry. Go hunt some prey. I’ll wait for you to come back."
’Chu Liangyu knew what he cared about, which was why she didn’t say that *she* was hungry.’
"Then I’ll take you back first."
"No need. Yu Tu is here. Go on, hurry back. Don’t let the cubs go hungry."
Cang Yu’s thin lips pressed into a line. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, "Alright. I’ll be back soon."
After all, the stronger the parent, the more energy was required to gestate a cub.
Whether Chu Liangyu’s words were true or not, if he wanted his cub to be healthy, Cang Yu had no choice but to go.
Seeing Cang Yu leave, the corners of Yu Tu’s mouth lifted. He seemed to be in a good mood.
With a light push, he vaulted effortlessly from the tree.
As soon as he drew near, Yu Tu’s nose began to twitch. "Female Master, you smell so good!"
Yu Tu had never smelled a fragrance like it before, but he found it wonderful. He liked it a lot.
"Oh? And do you like it?"
"I do!"
He answered without a hint of hesitation. Seemingly pleased, Chu Liangyu let out a soft laugh.
"Come here."
Chu Liangyu crooked her finger, beckoning him closer. Her eyes shimmered with seductive charm.
Yu Tu’s heart tickled with desire, and he didn’t even notice that she had gestured to him as if calling a puppy.
Her warm, soft lips brushed past his ear, sending a tingling sensation through him. Yu Tu’s face flushed beet red, and he stammered, "Fe-Female Master, you... you seem a little different today."
Unlike her usual reserved, almost saintly goddess-like image, today she was exceptionally alluring, utterly captivating.
’To be honest,’ Yu Tu thought, ’I like her much better like this.’
Chu Liangyu’s movements paused. "Do you want a cub?"
As if there was any other answer, Yu Tu nodded furiously.
’Even after all this time here, Chu Liangyu still had a strong sense of modesty. She would never do *that* out in the open, of course.’
"Host, your enthusiasm for completing the mission is commendable, but you mustn’t be so rash."
"What do you mean?"
"This pregnancy will consume a lot of energy. If you add another one on top of it, I’m afraid..."
"After all this time, not only has your energy not increased, but you can’t even help with a small thing like this?"
"Host, you have a long life ahead of you. Wouldn’t it be better to play it safe?"
Chu Liangyu fell silent. She knew she had a long life ahead, but she didn’t want to live it like this anymore.
’She had to find a way to break free from the system, and this was the perfect opportunity.’
After that, no matter how the system tried to persuade her, Chu Liangyu simply tuned it out.