Lei Xiao carefully carried Yun Jiao back to the cave, still looking tense. Every moment, he asked—was she hungry? Was she thirsty? Did she still feel like vomiting?
“…” Yun Jiao thought, *there’s nothing left in my stomach, how could I still vomit?*
She had wanted to sleep, but seeing Lei Xiao so restless, she sighed helplessly: “Could you make me some meat soup? I’m a little hungry.”
“Alright, I’ll cook it right away.” Lei Xiao dashed off like the wind.
Yun Jiao couldn’t help but laugh. Sometimes Lei Xiao was like a big child—quite endearing.
Outside, the night was pitch black, and in the shadows, many males still lingered, unwilling to give up.
Lei Xiao had intended to hunt a wild boar so Yun Jiao could have fresh meat, but suddenly he stopped in his tracks. If he left, would some male come to harass Yun Jiao? She was carrying a cub now—nothing could be allowed to happen.
At that moment, Mu Bai stepped out of the darkness: “I’ll help you hunt the boar. You stay here with her.”
“Thank you.” Lei Xiao looked at him with a complicated expression. “I’ll repay you with a boar tomorrow during the hunt.”
“No need. I want to protect her, too.” Mu Bai said, then transformed into a massive lynx and disappeared into the night.
Watching his retreating figure, Lei Xiao felt a wave of frustration. Reason told him he should accept Mu Bai. Having more males to care for Yun Jiao was a good thing.
But the thought of Mu Bai doing the same things with Yun Jiao that he himself had done made Lei Xiao’s heart ache, as though he couldn’t breathe. Snake beastmen were narrow-minded and domineering by nature—so much so that they could even turn against their own cubs.
And now, for Yun Jiao’s sake, Lei Xiao was restraining his own nature. He was Yun Jiao’s first beast husband, so everything had to be considered from her perspective. He had to be magnanimous to help Yun Jiao choose, and even manage, her future beast husbands—that was his duty as the first.
Lei Xiao returned gloomily to the cave, only to find Yun Jiao already asleep.
Looking at her delicate face, Lei Xiao shrank down into a thumb-thick blue snake, curling up beside her. He lifted his little snake head to nuzzle her cheek, while his golden slit-pupiled eyes—like tiny mung beans—flickered with a struggle between obsession and restraint.
…
Elsewhere in the Beast Tribe, outside a cave, firelight flickered. Several skewers of meat surrounded the flames, filling the air with rich aroma.
Guo Guo sprinkled the chili powder Yun Jiao had given her onto the roasting meat. The spicy fragrance was irresistible, making her mouth water.
Rubbing her small hands together, Guo Guo drooled openly.
Hu Yun, acting like a cook, threaded torn pieces of meat onto skewers one by one. Every so often, he stole a quick glance at the roasting meat by the fire, swallowing hard. Ever since tasting roasted meat, he had completely lost interest in raw flesh. But as a male, he had to let his mate eat first. Only what his mate left behind would be his share. He forced himself to look away and keep skewering—his appetite was huge, after all. Just then, a fragrant skewer of roasted meat was suddenly held out to him.
Hu Yun froze, then looked up to see Guo Guo’s chubby little face: “You’ve been staring for so long. Here, eat one to satisfy your craving.”
Hu Yun was taken aback by the kindness: “No need, you eat first. I’ll roast my own later.”
Across the entire Beast Continent, it was unheard of for a male to eat before a female when they were together.
Besides, although he and Guo Guo had already mated, they were still strangers in many ways. Hu Yun knew very well that his choice to pair with Guo Guo was purely for advantage.
Originally, he had only come to watch the coming-of-age ceremony for fun. But unexpectedly, the Mountain Tribe had produced a Sacred Female.
He was thrilled—if he could become the Sacred Female’s beast husband, the Fox Tribe would surely grow stronger. But the Sacred Female had chosen a cold-blooded beastman. He could still compete for the position of second beast husband, but as the young chief of the Fox Tribe, being second meant being suppressed by the first. How could he then lead the Fox Tribe to greatness?
While Hu Yun was feeling frustrated, some females of the Mountain Tribe nearby were chatting: “One’s a Sacred Female and the other’s a Superior Female—no wonder Guo Guo and Yun Jiao get along so well.”
“Guo Guo isn’t like us. She’s going to be a chieftain one day.”
“How ridiculous! Females are born to bear cubs. I’ve never seen a female become a chieftain!”
The speakers were casual, but Hu Yun listened intently. His gaze immediately shifted to Guo Guo.
A Superior Female, and she wanted to be a chieftain?
In that moment, Hu Yun felt as though he had found a kindred spirit. Even though she was female, he had never believed that females couldn’t lead.
Guo Guo, like him, had ambition—and she was close to the Sacred Female. If he could become Guo Guo’s first beast husband, he could merge the Fox Tribe into the Mountain Tribe. That way, it would be as if *their tribe too had a Holy Female*.
Thinking this, he nervously approached her and shared his idea.
Unexpectedly, Guo Guo agreed at once: “Alright. As long as you can bring the Fox Tribe into the fold, I’ll let you be my first beast husband.”
“Hey, what are you daydreaming about? Eat!” Guo Guo’s voice snapped him back to reality.
Hu Yun shook his head quickly, his ears turning red: “You eat. I’m not hungry yet.”
*It’s all supposed to be for advantage, so why is she being so kind to me?*
Fox beasts were sensitive by nature, prone to overthinking.
“Eat when I tell you to eat.” Guo Guo shoved the skewer into his mouth without giving him a choice.
“…” It was too delicious—he couldn’t resist.
Hu Yun devoured the skewer in a few bites.
Guo Guo nodded in satisfaction, then picked up one herself and took a bite: “You said the Fox Tribe will merge in. When?”
Hu Yun: “Soon. My father will arrive in a few days to discuss it with your tribe’s elder.”
Guo Guo narrowed her eyes: “You’re not lying to me, are you?”
“No, of course not.” Hu Yun quickly said, “What benefit would I get from lying to you? I know very well that only places with a Sacred Female can truly prosper. Yun Jiao will never go to the Fox Tribe. The only way is to merge the Fox Tribe into this one.”
“It’s good you understand.” Guo Guo was satisfied and handed him another skewer of meat.
Just as Hu Yun was about to take it, a hand shot out and snatched the skewer away.
Guo Guo frowned at the uninvited guest, a black line sliding down her forehead: “Father, why are you here? And why are you stealing Hu Yun’s meat?”
“I followed the smell—it’s delicious.” Zhu Dahai sniffed the skewer, took a bite, and his eyes lit up instantly. He had heard Guo Guo say roasted meat was tasty before. But back then, he hadn’t taken it seriously, even thinking she was being foolish.
Fire was terrifying—it could burn down forests. Who would be stupid enough to use something so dangerous just to roast meat?
But earlier, the shaman had come to him to talk about salt-making.
Zhu Dahai hadn’t expected it to be so simple, nor that the insect tribe, with their small brains and big courage, had been using fire to make salt all along. And he certainly hadn’t expected fire-roasted meat to taste this good.
One skewer wasn’t enough—he reached for another.
Guo Guo’s face darkened. She slapped his paw: “Father, if you want to eat, bring me some meat and I’ll roast it for you. This boar was hunted by Hu Yun, and he hasn’t even eaten yet!”
Zhu Dahai sheepishly pulled his hand back: “It’s too fragrant—I couldn’t resist.”
In the beast world, there was no concept of filial piety or caring for elders, and no male had the right to take food meant for a female. Even as Guo Guo’s father, he was no exception.
Hu Yun, however, didn’t mind: “Let him eat. There’s still some meat in the cave—I’ll eat that.”
“Haha, then I won’t be polite.” Zhu Dahai sat down without hesitation and grabbed another skewer.
Guo Guo shot him an exasperated glare but said nothing more: “Father, what are you here for?”