The meal was lively and bustling, with Ming Yuan practically trying to stuff every delicious bite into Li Zhu’s bowl.
Li Cheng, on the other hand, kept bombarding Ze Yu with questions, and after learning he was a Level Ten Beast, was thoroughly shocked.
“By the way, what about your brother? Is he feeling better?”
Li Zhu asked between bites.
“You just remembered you even have a brother?”
Ming Yuan rolled her eyes; it took her until the meal was almost finished to recall.
“Mom~ I just forgot because I was busy. I’ll go check on my brother.”
With that, she headed toward the small cave where Li Hang was sleeping.
Though only a day had passed, Li Hang’s complexion had already improved, his cheeks rosy as he slept peacefully.
Li Zhu quietly approached and placed the cracked-earth bear crystal carefully on her brother’s bedside before quietly retreating.
The crystal had been unearthed by the tribe while handling the cracked-earth bear yesterday. It was first given to her father, who insisted on giving it to Ze Yu. When she came over, Ze Yu returned it to her.
Just as Li Zhu stepped out, she heard her Beast Husband talking with her father.
“Father, I didn’t manage to do much today. There’s still some beast hides and meat in my spatial pocket. Now that Li Zhu is pregnant, her food needs will only increase. Tomorrow I’ll take the food from my space and head to the eastern Black Forest to stock up. I can’t leave Li Zhu alone at home, so during the day she’ll need your care.”
In the Beast World, females who have their Beast Husband after the coming-of-age ceremony usually move out of their original household to establish a new family with their partner.
Ze Yu was feeling a little hesitant.
Right now, he was Li Zhu’s only Beast Husband. If he went hunting and left her alone, he couldn’t relax.
Even if he could take her along, there was no guarantee of safety. Moreover, once he senses the offspring’s gender at the third month, they develop rapidly, drawing massive energy from the mother.
Thus, in the later stages of pregnancy, most females basically eat and sleep continuously.
If the mother’s nutrition falls short, it could easily mean death for both mother and child.
And for Bai Ze offspring, the energy required would be even greater!
Yet the Rabbit Tribe’s current strength was too weak—he still couldn’t be at ease.
“The Black Forest?”
Li Cheng frowned.
The Black Forest was arguably the most dangerous forest on the entire Northern Continent, bar none.
It was shrouded in an impenetrable mist year-round, with sunlight barely piercing through. At its center lay a swamp where no Beast had ever survived after getting trapped. It was filled with high-level wild beasts, rich resources, and numerous rare plants.
“I heard there are many high-level beasts there. It’s extremely dangerous, you—”
“Father, you don’t need to worry about my safety. On the Northern Continent, there shouldn’t be any beasts above my rank.”
Li Cheng: [Sorry, I intruded.]
“It’s just that I may need you to temporarily help take care of Li Zhu while I’m gone.”
A single trip could gather a month’s worth of supplies without issue.
If necessary, they might have to find Li Zhu another Beast Husband.
Ze Yu was well aware that he alone couldn’t fully care for his partner.
Even now, just after conceiving, she was already stretched thin. Later, during childbirth, it would be even more critical.
Li Zhu knew his capabilities and didn’t argue—she simply reminded him.
“But still, you need to be careful when hunting. I don’t want my incredibly handsome Beast Husband to get hurt, understand?”
Li Zhu stepped in front of him, tilting her head up to look at him, concern clear on her face.
Ze Yu suddenly felt his chest swell with a fullness that was pure happiness.
He realized how lucky he was—it was fortunate that it was her.
Perhaps, after traveling across thousands of miles, fate had brought him here just to meet her.
“Mm.”
Ze Yu responded while reaching out to gently stroke her hair.
Outside, the sky was already darkening.
Li Zhu, thinking of her Beast Husband going hunting tomorrow, decided they should rest early. The two returned to their cave.
As soon as they got back, Li Zhu couldn’t wait and climbed into the nest.
She had to admit—it was incredibly comfortable, the nest Ze Yu had made.
It seemed like he could do everything well. Being with him made her feel like she didn’t have to worry about anything; he considered everything carefully, from every angle.
“Ze~ come here.”
Li Zhu beckoned to the man standing by the nest and patted the space beside her.
Ever since becoming mates, they hadn’t really gotten to know each other properly.
Even though they’d already shared the most intimate moments…
Ze Yu’s lips curved slightly as he bent down toward Li Zhu.
In an instant, their breaths mingled.
“Li Zhu… are you inviting me?”
He asked, lifting a hand to cradle the back of her head.
Li Zhu unconsciously licked her lips and swallowed nervously, tilting her head slightly backward.
She had no idea how alluring this small gesture looked in Ze Yu’s eyes.
Seeing the amusement in his gaze made her heart skip a beat. Just as she was about to speak, Ze Yu gently pressed the back of her neck and kissed her, the scent of fresh herbs accompanying the warmth.
His kisses were always like this—at first, a restrained tenderness, as if afraid of startling something. His tongue lightly traced her lips, careful and patient.
Li Zhu’s breath faltered, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, fingers tangling in his soft silver hair.
Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the beast-hide curtain, flowing across his silvery strands. The faint golden “Zhi” mark on his forehead glowed subtly with each breath, making his eyes shimmer like scattered stars.
The kiss deepened, blending their breaths together. His hands slid gently along her spine, exuding a soothing warmth that made her nestle even closer into his embrace.
It wasn’t until Li Zhu’s cheeks flushed and she pushed him lightly, her breath uneven, that Ze Yu pulled back slightly, nose brushing against hers, his voice low and honeyed.
“Li Zhu… I thought you wanted it.”
Li Zhu buried her face in his neck, her voice muffled.
“Who… who wants it…”
Ze Yu chuckled softly, the vibration in his chest transferring through their contact, a comforting, reassuring strength.
He leaned back and held her close, letting her head rest on his arm while the other hand gently stroked her hair.
Li Zhu calmed herself for a long while before softly speaking.
“Ze Yu… are you happy… being my Beast Husband?”
Ze Yu froze. He had never expected her to ask such a question.
On this male-heavy continent, it was incredibly difficult for a male to find a mate.
So most females thought, “If you can become my Beast Husband, consider yourself lucky.”
But Li Zhu… she cared whether he was willing, whether he was happy.
Since coming here, he had come to understand things he’d never seen before.
The cookware, the foods no other Beast had ever tried—here, they were everywhere. Even their cooking methods, unlike anywhere else, produced food more delicious than anything he had tasted.
Yet he had traveled across the entire continent, wandering for so many years.
He had a strong intuition: all these things existed because of Li Zhu.
“I’m happy. Meeting you, Li Zhu, is the happiest thing in my life.”
At first, becoming mates might have been solely for offspring.
But now, he liked her. He wanted to be with her forever.