“Alright.”
Ze Yu spoke calmly.
It seemed that compared to other females, she was more interesting.
“Ah?”
Li Zhu was stunned, and the rabbit beastmen behind her were too.
She had guessed he would agree, but she hadn’t expected him to say yes so quickly!
“What’s wrong? Are you having second thoughts?” Ze Yu raised an eyebrow.
“N-no… no second thoughts.”
“Th-then… shall we… go home first?”
Dead mouth! How could she be so useless at the critical moment!?
Go home?
Ze Yu thought, Finally… am I going to have a home too?
He realized… he had been wandering for five years without even noticing…
“Mm.”
Ze Yu replied faintly.
Soon, after everyone reorganized, they harvested all the remaining sweet berries and finally began the journey back.
Rabbit Tribe’s Village
“Ah Cheng, why aren’t the kids back yet? It’s almost mealtime. They should have been back by now.”
Ming Yuan paced anxiously in her cave.
For some reason, her heart was pounding with unease.
“Ah Yuan, don’t worry. Maybe they were delayed along the way. Most of the southern forest has only small beasts, and with Ah Heng there, they’ll be fine.”
Hearing her mate’s words, Ming Yuan felt a bit calmer.
Perhaps the kids were already on their way back.
Just as she was thinking this, a ruckus came from the entrance.
“Mother! Mother! We’re back!”
The two exchanged glances and hurried toward the entrance.
Stepping outside, they saw Li Heng being carried by the others, and a stranger standing next to Li Zhu.
“Oh my, Li Zhu, Li Heng—what happened? What’s going on?”
They rushed forward to check.
“Mother, please call Granny Lan to examine Ah Heng first.”
Li Zhu still shivered thinking back to the earlier scene.
If it hadn’t been for a slight chance… her brother would have…
“Yes, yes! Quickly, fetch Auntie Lan!”
Soon, other rabbit beastmen had brought Granny Lan over.
Seeing the situation, Zhi Lan hurried forward.
Thin streams of green light flowed into Li Heng’s body like spring water, and in an instant, even the surface wounds healed completely.
“Fortunately, the internal organs were the most damaged. He needs some rest. I’ve already treated him, so now you just need to take good care of him.”
Zhi Lan slowly stood up, already feeling exhausted from the effort.
“Hurry, Ah Mu, help Auntie Lan back to rest.”
Ah Mu nodded and quickly supported Granny Lan as she left.
Li Heng was placed on the innermost pile of dry hay in the cave, covered with the thickest furs, and had already fallen asleep.
Ming Yuan stayed by his side, stroking his cheeks over and over, her eyes red.
The tribe worked together to carry the dead land-cracking bear to the processing area and distributed the harvested sweet berries to each household. After a long while, the noise gradually faded.
Finally, the cave was quiet.
The campfire crackled, casting flickering shadows on the stone walls.
“Li Zhu, tell Father… what exactly happened today?”
Li Cheng spoke first, his voice betraying fatigue he tried to hide.
Li Zhu recounted everything that had happened that day.
“What!? A seventh-tier beast? How could it have come here!?”
Li Cheng couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t even imagine what would have happened if the kids hadn’t met the white-haired beastman.
“I don’t know why it came here. But Father, from now on, everyone should stay at home and avoid hunting. With one seventh-tier beast, there might be a second one. And everyone must remain vigilant!”
Li Zhu said seriously. This was a matter of the tribe’s survival—there was no room for carelessness.
“Alright, I’ll notify them right away!”
Li Cheng was about to leave when his daughter stopped him.
“Wait, Father, there’s one more thing.”
Li Cheng turned, puzzled.
“This is… Ze Yu. I plan to bond with him.”
“Bonding?” Ming Yuan was startled and instinctively looked at Li Cheng.
Li Cheng furrowed his brows, pausing for a moment in silence.
“Li Zhu, are you really sure about this? You…”
Of course, Li Zhu knew what her father was worried about, but she was certain in her heart.
“Father, I’ve thought it through.”
“Ah, if you’ve thought it through, then tomorrow we’ll ask Granny Lan to perform the bonding ceremony. She’s already spent too much energy healing Ah Heng today.”
Her child had always been strong-willed. Over the past sixteen years, it was because they listened to Li Zhu that their tribe had grown stronger. He trusted his child.
“No need.”
Ze Yu suddenly spoke, his voice calm yet full of unshakable certainty.
“In our Bai Ze Tribe, bonding does not require a shaman or healer.”
“You’re from the Bai Ze Tribe?”
“Mm.”
Li Cheng and Ming Yuan were stunned.
They had only heard of this tribe from the elders in the stories.
Li Zhu’s eyes widened.
“Oh my heavens! Could it really be the Bai Ze Tribe from the Classic of Mountains and Seas?”
The thought slipped out before she could stop herself.
“Classic of Mountains and Seas? What’s that?” Ze Yu asked, confused.
“Uh… nothing, nothing. Just an old beast-skin book.”
Li Zhu quickly changed the subject.
“No need for a ceremony… then how do you bond?”
Ze Yu’s gaze turned to Li Zhu, deep and intent.
“In our tribe, bonding is proven through the mingling of bloodlines. As long as…”
He paused, seeming to choose his words carefully.
“As long as mating is completed, the bond is established directly.”
Li Zhu’s face instantly flushed crimson. She instinctively lowered her head, fingers twisting the hem of her fur skirt.
Ever since she had expressed her desire to bond with him, she had already anticipated this moment.
But in the sixteen years of her life in the tribe, plus twenty-five years in her previous modern life, she had never… done that with a man.
Ahhh… today it’s really going to happen?
A little scared… a little excited… what should she do?
Before she could think further, Ze Yu’s cool voice rang in her ears again.
“And,” he continued, his tone now carrying more seriousness,“once this contract is formed, it lasts a lifetime. For Bai Ze Tribe beastmen, there is only one chance from birth. Once chosen, it can never be changed.”
He looked at her, eyes sincere. “Li Zhu, are you truly sure? Once bonded, no matter what happens in the future, I will only ever be your mate.”
Silence fell again in the cave, only the crackling of the fire echoing.
Ming Yuan wanted to speak in worry, but Li Cheng gently held her back.
He observed Ze Yu. The seriousness in this beastman’s eyes was genuine. The Bai Ze Tribe… an ancient and mysterious lineage. He never expected to encounter one in person today.
Li Zhu lifted her head and met his deep, unwavering gaze, her heart skipping a beat.
“I’ve long thought it through.”
A man who was both handsome and powerful—she was not losing out at all, right?
Hearing his daughter’s words, Li Cheng sighed.
Girls grow up and cannot be held back! He glanced at their modest cave.
“Alright then. I’ll have a few tribe members clean out the larger cave nearby. You two… can move in there tonight.”
Tonight?
Li Zhu’s face was full of shock.
So impatient? Her parents were already rushing her along?
She secretly glanced at Ze Yu and noticed he was also looking at her. The coldness that had once surrounded his gaze was gone, replaced by… a trace of gentleness?
Ahem, how embarrassing.
Turning back, she saw her father had already left the cave—and her mother had… already begun packing!
Honestly, she felt happy. Her family was willing to fuss over her. But at the same time, she felt slightly glum. Were her parents really so eager to send her off?
“Li… Zhu? You… rest for a bit. I’ll take care of the cave over there, don’t worry.”
Ze Yu looked at the myriad expressions on her face and found it thoroughly amusing. Fearing she might fret over the cave not being ready, he spoke to reassure her.
Li Zhu thought: Thanks, but I’m really not worried at all.
“Alright, alright, thanks for your help. I’ll rest for a while then.”
Whether he was sent on errands today or tomorrow made little difference—sooner or later, he would be at her service anyway.
She decided to rest first after a long, exhausting day.
Li Zhu slowly walked toward her rabbit nest, and within moments of lying down, she let out the faintest snore.
Ze Yu glanced at her, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, and slowly walked out of the cave.