“You…”
“Lei Xiao, wait!” Yun Jiao stopped him and turned to Wa Li: “Then how did your father discover this method?”
“My father is smart, of course.” Proudly, Wa Li recounted the whole process—from his father’s discovery on the beach to the creation of salt.
Yun Jiao sneered: “You think only your father is clever? Do you believe all other beastmen are blind, unable to notice the salt on the beach after the tide recedes?”
Wa Li retorted: “If other beastmen had discovered it, why couldn’t they make salt?”
“Because beastmen revere the so-called Fire God. Isn’t our tribe’s shaman and Bai Wei the best examples? Even if beastmen thought of the method, they wouldn’t dare try it. And when a forest fire breaks out, instead of thinking about how to extinguish it, who would dare collect embers? Your father can only be called bold, nothing more.”
Wa Li was left speechless!
The shaman was also at a loss. Why drag her into this? But salt-making was indeed a serious matter.
The shaman frowned: “Yun Jiao, does the method you mentioned really produce salt?”
“Yes. But this method isn’t perfected, and the salt produced shouldn’t be eaten in large amounts.”
“You know the complete method of salt-making?” The shaman’s eyes lit up.
Bai Wei quickly interjected: “Aunt, Yun Jiao can’t possibly know this. She must be making it up.”
“I know what I’m doing!” The shaman shot her a warning look, then turned to Yun Jiao: “I’ll report this to the chief when I return. Yun Jiao, since you are a female of the tribe, you should think of the tribe. Forget Wa Li—what about Mu Bai…”
“I only said I’d come to take a look. I never said I had to be Yun Jiao’s second beast-husband right now. Besides, even Yun Jiao’s parents can’t choose her partner for her. Aren’t you meddling too much?” Mu Bai, who had been silent until now, spoke with displeasure.
“Fine, fine, I’m meddling. I won’t interfere anymore. Do whatever you want!” The shaman glared at him, then hobbled away with her staff.
Bai Wei cast Yun Jiao a resentful look before quickly chasing after her:
“Aunt, wait for me…”
“Shaman, you’re just leaving? Didn’t you say I’d be the Sacred Female’s second beast-husband? Shaman! Shaman…” Wa Li ignored Yun Jiao and ran after the shaman to demand an explanation.
“This shaman—I really don’t know what to say about her!” Guo Guo complained in frustration.
Yun Jiao didn’t know how to judge the shaman. If you said she wasn’t bad, she often did things that were disgusting. If you said she was bad, she had never harmed Yun Jiao directly, and she always seemed to put the interests of the Mountain Tribe first. It was really hard to evaluate her.
Lei Xiao didn’t care about the shaman. Narrowing his eyes, he studied the male in front of him: “I think I’ve seen you before.”
Mu Bai smiled and nodded: “I’m Mu Bai, the Cat Clan’s first warrior, and the son of the Cat Clan’s witch doctor. My beast form is a lynx. We met before during a hunt.”
At the mention of his beast form, Lei Xiao remembered: “So it’s you. You want to be Yun Jiao’s second beast-husband?”
Mu Bai nodded again, looking at Yun Jiao with seriousness: “I do want to be your second beast-husband. But Yun Jiao, don’t worry—I won’t force you. You don’t need to reject me right away. I’ll be staying in the Mountain Tribe for now, so you can take time to get to know me. If in the end you still don’t like me, I won’t insist.”
“Thank you.” With him speaking so reasonably, what else could Yun Jiao say?
Lei Xiao rolled his eyes and said sarcastically: “I know beastmen from your tribe. They said you only ever agree to be a female’s first beast-husband. What’s this? Now you’re fine with being number two?”
“Times change.” Mu Bai replied calmly, his tone sharp beneath the surface. “I know you’re upset, and I know Yun Jiao likes you. But you’re a cold-blooded beastman—you’ll hibernate in winter. Yun Jiao is the Sacred Female. One male alone can’t protect her.”
“…”
Like I don’t already know that? Do you need to remind me?
A cold gleam flashed in Lei Xiao’s eyes as he narrowed them dangerously.
Mu Bai met his gaze directly. Though he was smiling, there was no warmth in his eyes.
“Sorry, but Lei Xiao is enough for me. I don’t need a second beast-husband. If there’s nothing else, please leave.” Yun Jiao quickly stated her position again, seeing the two men about to fight.
Lei Xiao lowered his eyes, lost in thought.
“Alright, I’ll listen to you. I’ll go back to my cave for now. But I won’t leave the Mountain Tribe yet. You’re welcome to come find me.” Mu Bai spoke agreeably, glanced at Lei Xiao, and then left.
Once he was gone, Guo Guo frowned: “Yun Jiao, Mu Bai is very strong. It’s fine in summer, but in winter, Lei Xiao really won’t be able to look after you.”
“Don’t I still have you? Won’t you help me?”
“Of course I will! You’re the future elder of our tribe. I’ll definitely help you.”
“Then that’s settled. Don’t worry. When winter comes, I’ll take good care of myself.”
She had lived under the modern system of monogamy, so being suddenly told to take multiple partners was something she truly couldn’t accept.
Like all girls, Yun Jiao had once dreamed of growing up, wearing a wedding dress, and walking toward the man she loved most. Now, Lei Xiao was that man—the one she loved most. She didn’t want any other male intruding.
…
Guo Guo didn’t bring up the topic again. After chatting with Yun Jiao for a while longer, she left with Hu Yun.
But Lei Xiao remained gloomy. Ever since Mu Bai had left, he seemed absent-minded, almost like his soul had drifted away. Even when Yun Jiao called for him to tidy up the leftover meat, he didn’t hear her.
Yun Jiao sighed, walked over, and waved her hand in front of him: “Are you still bothered by what Mu Bai said?”
“Not exactly. I’m your first beast-husband. Even if I’m unhappy, I’ll be sensible. And Mu Bai wasn’t wrong—you really do need more beast-husbands. Relying on me alone isn’t enough to protect you.”
“But… but…”
Lei Xiao looked at her seriously, with expectation in his eyes: “Can you promise me that no matter how many beast-husbands you have in the future, the one you love most will always be me?”
“I won’t have other beast-husbands…”
“That won’t do!” Lei Xiao interrupted, his emotions complicated—resentful, frustrated, annoyed—but his words were: “You can’t only have me. Compared to you being in danger, I’d rather you have more beast-husbands to protect you. Yun Jiao, you are the most important female in my life. I can’t let my selfishness harm you.”
“…”
How would that harm me?
Yun Jiao said helplessly: “Alright, alright. If I meet someone suitable in the future, we’ll see. But right now, I really haven’t met anyone suitable.”
“Then… when that time comes, you must promise that the one you love most will be me!”
“Of course~” Yun Jiao cupped his face, stood on tiptoe, and kissed the corner of his lips. She said seriously: “It has to be you. It will always be you. That will never change.”
Lei Xiao was overwhelmed with emotion and pulled her tightly into his arms.
But as he held her, Yun Jiao began to feel something was off. A black line slid down her forehead as she muttered: “Your energy is way too much…”
Lei Xiao: “…”