[’Host, don’t do this. We can talk it through.’]
Perhaps sensing Chu Liangyu’s intentions, the system’s tone grew frantic.
"What are you two doing!"
The dimly lit room was filled with a sensual atmosphere. The sudden light made the two of them freeze.
Tears welled in Chu Liangyu’s eyes, the corners tinged red as she looked at the newcomer.
The revealing sight dazzled Cang Yu. He stared, his gaze meeting Chu Liangyu’s, and his mind went blank for a moment.
"It’s exactly what it looks like."
"Yu Tu! I warned you. Since you refuse to listen, don’t blame me for being ruthless."
Cang Yu had already finished his hunt as quickly as possible, but he was still a step too late.
’It seems Yu Tu needs to be taught a lesson about the rules.’
"Ha! You really think I’m afraid of you?"
An immense tiger’s roar echoed as Yu Tu transformed back into his beast form.
His white fur was streaked with black stripes, the "King" character on his forehead was especially striking, and his golden pupils were filled with ferocious energy.
Despite their anger, both were mindful of Chu Liangyu inside the room and, by a tacit agreement, went outside.
Chu Liangyu’s expression was placid. She dressed unhurriedly, picked up a plate of Red Heart Fruits from the table, and stepped out of the stone house.
As soon as she stepped outside, her eyes were met with the sight of little cubs running all over the mountainside.
A smile touched Chu Liangyu’s lips. ’I suddenly feel like I’ve walked into a zoo, and I’m just a tourist watching. It’s a little strange.’
Halfway down the mountainside, the two of them were fighting fiercely. Chu Liangyu sat leisurely on the grass, watching with great interest.
Suddenly, she felt something furry brush against her hand.
"Beast Mother, Beast Mother, what are you eating? I want some too."
Chu Liangyu looked down to see a small, white, fluffy fox.
Its small eyes darted about, a sign of a quick and clever mind.
"No, there’s only a little bit, and your Beast Mother wants to eat it too."
Scratching the little fox’s chin, Chu Liangyu decided to tease it. "How about this," she said, "you go get your Beast Father to come and plead your case, and I’ll give the rest to you."
Ever since she had borne the young of the Nine-tailed Clan, that man had hardly appeared before her.
On the rare occasions she did see him, it was only a glimpse of his back as he returned from a hunt.
’Among all her Beast Husbands, his face was one of the most outstanding, but his temper was just awful.’
"Okay, Beast Mother, you wait! I’ll go get my Beast Father right now!"
’What a sincere little thing. He really went.’
Shaking her head, Chu Liangyu didn’t take it to heart. ’He won’t come for something so trivial.’
It seemed Cang Yu was truly furious this time. Every one of his blows was vicious.
Perhaps because he’d been holding back for so long, Yu Tu was able to fight Cang Yu to a draw once he went all out.
After some time, the two came down the mountain, covered in injuries.
"You’re back," Chu Liangyu greeted them, her expression nonchalant as she pretended not to see their injuries. "Cang Yu, the cubs are hungry. Go prepare some food."
Cang Yu felt that his Female Master had changed, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on how.
It was as if she no longer cared about anything. She seemed distant and ethereal, impossible to grasp, creating a sense that she could leave at any moment.
’Leave?’
He pressed his lips together. He didn’t know if it was the effect of that revealing glimpse from earlier, but he found himself surprisingly reluctant to let her go.
"Yes. How would you like it prepared, Female Master?"
Chu Liangyu was surprised. ’Doesn’t he only know how to roast things? Can he cook in other ways?’
"You can decide."
As Cang Yu left, Chu Liangyu yawned and started to head back inside the house.
But her hand was suddenly grabbed. "Female Master, it hurts so much~"
Chu Liangyu turned to see Yu Tu looking at her with a pitiful, wronged expression, his eyes fixed on her.
This was the first time a Beast Husband had ever acted this coquettishly with her. Chu Liangyu smiled, but she didn’t comfort him.
She reached out and poked his bruised eye. "Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were a panda Beastman."
"Female Master, how can you be so heartless? You don’t even care about me at all."
"Oh? And how would you like me to ’care’?"
She grabbed his collar and, with a sharp tug, closed the distance between them in an instant.
Yu Tu’s heart hammered in his chest. His eyes darted away, not daring to look directly at Chu Liangyu.
The closer they were, the more intensely Yu Tu could smell the scent that captivated him.
He found himself enjoying this closeness, wishing it could last forever.
Chu Liangyu observed his reaction, a playful and knowing look on her face.
She deliberately closed the gap a little more, pressing her soft lips gently against his.
It was a fleeting kiss, light as a dragonfly touching water, but Yu Tu, as if already addicted, eagerly chased after her.
Chu Liangyu had brought this on herself. They held each other and kissed for a long time, until her body went limp and she was held completely in Yu Tu’s embrace.
Her red lips parted as she panted, unable to catch her breath for a long time.
"Female Master."
The man’s clear, cool voice made Chu Liangyu freeze. It sounded familiar yet distant, like an echo from another life.
The man’s eyes were deep, and he stared at Chu Liangyu for a long time before casually shifting his gaze away.
"Hu Qiumu, what are you doing here?"
"Didn’t you have the cub summon me?"
Hm?
’She had only been joking; she never expected him to actually come.’
’Knowing his temper, the little cub must have said something to convince him. Otherwise, he never would have come so easily.’
"It’s nothing. This is what I promised. Take it to him."
The red fruit made her soft, delicate palm look even more fair in comparison.
Perhaps it was because the fruit was so vividly red, but both men found themselves staring, transfixed.
Hu Qiumu frowned and grunted in acknowledgment. "Don’t call me for such trivial matters again."
As he reached to take the Red Heart Fruit, their hands inevitably touched.
Hu Qiumu’s expression seemed to sour, and he almost imperceptibly wiped his hand on his leather wrap.
Chu Liangyu silently gritted her teeth. ’What is with this guy? If he finds it so disgusting, why did he even come?’
"He’s gone, Female Master."
There was a gloomy tone in Yu Tu’s voice. Chu Liangyu snapped out of her thoughts, but her playful mood had suddenly vanished. "You’re injured pretty badly. Go back and get some rest."
Normally, Yu Tu would obediently leave whenever Chu Liangyu said that, but today he was being exceptionally clingy.
He seemed to particularly enjoy sniffing gently at the nape of her neck. Chu Liangyu’s annoyance faltered. ’This is...’
’Looks like I added too much fuel to the fire,’ she thought. ’I suppose I’m just reaping what I sowed.’
Since she couldn’t get rid of him, she decided to just let him be, pretending he wasn’t there.
"You made this?"
So many unexpected things had happened today. Just look at this spread of fried, stewed, and pan-seared delicacies—Chu Liangyu couldn’t believe her eyes.
"Yes. Have a taste."
’So, it wasn’t that he couldn’t cook, just that he didn’t want to.’
A gentle smile appeared on Chu Liangyu’s face, but deep down, her heart turned to ice.
"It’s rare to see such a magnificent feast. It would be a shame to let it go to waste."
Yu Tu shamelessly joined in. Perhaps because of their fight, Cang Yu now had a deeper understanding of Yu Tu’s strength.
Realizing that Yu Tu wasn’t as simple as he’d imagined, his attitude changed. He didn’t try to drive him away, and for a moment, a strange sense of harmony settled over them.
As dusk fell, the cubs who had been running wild on the mountainside all returned to their respective Beast Fathers.
The little fox was the fastest of them all, and for good reason.
The little fox could think of nothing but his Red Heart Fruit. The moment he saw Hu Qiumu return, he pounced. "Beast Father, Beast Father, did you get the Red Heart Fruit?"