A pair of huge, glossy black wings appeared behind Chu Liangyu.
The feathers on them were like the finest silk—noble and elegant.
They shimmered with iridescent light under the setting sun, and a faint golden sun symbol emerged on her brow.
From a distance, their edges even seemed to glow with a faint blue light.
Her ink-black hair floated on the gentle breeze. Combined with her stunning face, the entire scene was both bewitching and breathtakingly beautiful.
Xiong Jiaojiao’s heart pounded in her chest as she waited in anticipation to see what Chu Liangyu’s full Beastification would look like.
But this was as far as it went. There were no further changes; this seemed to be the full extent of her Beastification.
The cubs had never seen such a spectacle and were all staring, dumbfounded.
One of the quicker-witted ones, thinking Chu Liangyu was dying, rushed off to call the Beast Father on duty.
When Feng Qiwu arrived, this was the exact scene that greeted him.
His emotions churned like a raging sea. How could he possibly believe that a female Beastman could undergo Beastification after reaching adulthood, and not even when on the verge of death?
It was just that her beast form... seemed a little familiar. Suddenly, a fragment of inherited memory flashed through Feng Qiwu’s mind.
Without warning, his breathing grew ragged, as if he had just discovered some earth-shattering secret.
Chu Liangyu’s Beastification was fleeting, and she soon returned to normal.
Xiong Jiaojiao was still reeling from the shock. When she saw Chu Liangyu looking at her, she didn’t know what expression to make.
"I—"
SCREE... SCREE...
The high, clear cry of an eagle rang out, cutting Chu Liangyu off.
Lifting her head, she saw a flock of giant Golden Eagles appearing in the sky above the Bianye Tribe. They circled overhead, poised to strike, as if searching for something.
The giant eagles reminded Chu Liangyu of the third brother, and she exchanged a look with Xiong Jiaojiao.
Chu Liangyu narrowed her eyes. Soon, she spotted the third brother among the flock of giant eagles.
It wasn’t that Chu Liangyu’s eyesight was particularly good, but that among so many eagles, only he was blind in one eye and slightly larger than the others.
"Run!"
With that single word, the scene descended into chaos.
Among a group of cubs, the two females were still conspicuous. Of course, they knew this, so they had to run for the forest first.
Only then could they confuse the eagles’ line of sight and increase their chances of escape.
"What do you think you’re doing?!"
Feng Qiwu transformed into his beast form. His Phoenix Feathers shimmered with iridescent light, his long tail feathers draping gracefully down.
"A Phoenix, you say? How interesting."
Feng Qiwu raised his head arrogantly. "Since you know what I am, you’d best leave at once."
The third brother’s real name was Yin Muli. He was the eldest son of the Golden Eagle Clan’s chief and was originally supposed to inherit the position.
But for certain reasons, he had ended up a Wandering Beast.
If not for his goal of obtaining Chu Liangyu, he would never have been able to return.
"Get out of my way. I only want that female."
"She is my Female Master. How dare a creature of your caliber even think of it?"
Feng Qiwu scoffed, his tone thick with scorn.
’Even I, a Phoenix, have to share Chu Liangyu with others. This guy actually has the delusion of possessing her all to himself? He’s truly overreaching.’
"I don’t care who she is. If I want her, no one can stop me." Glancing at him, Yin Muli continued, "So what if you’re a Phoenix? I’ll take her from you all the same."
SCREE...
The eagle’s cry rang out, and the flock that had been circling immediately surrounded Feng Qiwu, waiting for the right moment to attack.
With Feng Qiwu blocked, Yin Muli immediately shot off in the direction Chu Liangyu had fled.
How could someone running on two legs be faster than someone flying? Before she could even reach the forest, Chu Liangyu was about to be caught.
Talons glinting with a cold light swept past overhead. Chu Liangyu instinctively rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the attack.
"Ah! Beast Mother, save me!"
Chu Liangyu’s heart leaped into her throat at the cry. She looked up to see the fox cub clutched in Yin Muli’s talons, about to be carried high into the air.
The little cub was in mortal danger.
With no time to think, Chu Liangyu leaped up and grabbed the giant eagle’s other talon.
"Don’t drop him, or I’ll let go."
Chu Liangyu knew his objective and spoke immediately.
"Hah, then let go."
Yin Muli was completely unfazed by the threat. Chu Liangyu fell silent. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to let go.
It was that they were already far from the ground. Letting go now would mean falling to her death.
"Beast Mother, I’m scared..."
In the midst of the awkward atmosphere, the little cub’s trembling voice sought comfort.
Chu Liangyu shot him a look. ’This kid is just afraid people will forget he’s here.’
"It seems the rumors were true. You are the legendary Divine Lady who bears many cubs in one litter."
’I’ve completely lost the ability to have children now. This guy doesn’t know that. If I were to tell him now, then...’
"Beast Mother can’t have cubs anymore."
Chu Liangyu: !!!
’This little traitor is going to be the death of me!’
’Aren’t foxes supposed to be cunning? How did I give birth to such a stupid one?!’
Chu Liangyu took a deep breath, opening and closing her eyes.
’Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. Anger is bad for my health.’
"Oh? In that case, wasn’t all my effort for nothing?"
"Then there’s no use keeping you alive."
Chu Liangyu’s breath hitched. In the next instant, the whistling of the wind was all she could hear.
The little cub waved its paws in terror, desperately trying to get closer to Chu Liangyu, as if being by her side was the only safe place in the world.
In the end, Chu Liangyu’s heart softened, her earlier anger vanishing without a trace.
She reached out and pulled him into her embrace.
"Don’t be afraid. Beast Mother is here."
Watching the ground rush closer and closer, Chu Liangyu’s heart sank.
She was gambling—gambling that Yin Muli was doing this on purpose and had no real intention of killing her.
But she couldn’t rely solely on that gamble. She had to leave herself a way out, a way to ensure they would both survive.