The discipline of Black Tiger City was good, its efficiency even higher than that of the Yanxiang Tribe. The entire Black Tiger City quickly assembled, and Ming Yan led a White Tiger to Si Yan.
"You’ll ride this one," Ming Yan patted the White Tiger, his dark pupils falling on Si Yan. Watching the small female, his voice unconsciously softened. "It’s relatively docile."
The little female leaped onto the White Tiger, three adorable little cubs following suit. The White Tiger shook its tail.
Ming Yan’s eyes deepened as he watched the group of one large and three small. He had become strong to avoid females. His mind was filled only with thoughts of cultivation. Yet now, he felt himself entertaining a very absurd thought. He hoped she would listen to the troubles of his heart, hoped she would understand and share the suffering he had endured. Suddenly, he wished he had a place of tenderness, a place to entrust his soul.
Ming Yan’s gaze grew even more profound as Si Yan looked back at him. He knew her appearance was covered in mud, a disguise, but her clear, striking eyes etched themselves into his heart at that moment.
A hint of mockery leaked from the depths of Ming Yan’s eyes. In this world, which female didn’t have a group of males? Did he actually entertain thoughts of competing with a group of males for one female? Foolish, utterly foolish. He was a Purple Crystal Tiger Beastman; the world he could pursue was vast. There was no need to tie himself to any female.
Si Yan couldn’t ignore the clingy gaze, turning her head to ask, "Ming Yan? What’s wrong?"
Ming Yan’s heart turned cold again. He passed by Si Yan indifferently. "It’s nothing."
Why is he acting so strange? Si Yan was baffled by the sudden change in Ming Yan’s attitude.
Ming Yan gestured, and another young Red Crystal Tiger Beastman, Hu Qiao, stepped forward. "Let’s move out!"
The troop set off majestically. This was the second time Si Yan’s family had migrated with a tribe.
On the back of the White Tiger, Si Yan gently held her stomach, pondering a question. At least a month had passed since she arrived in this world, but... her period hadn’t come! Strange, wasn’t this body’s menstrual cycle once a month?
"Mother, are you uncomfortable?" Bei Ji turned to ask her.
Si Yan released her stomach and shook her head. "No. Little Bei Ji, don’t worry."
The stamina and combat strength of the Tiger Beastmen were extremely formidable. They traveled for a long time. Even Si Yan and her family on the White Tiger’s back were nearly exhausted when the entire group finally took a break.
Si Yan took her three cubs to a shaded corner to rest. Ming Yan brought her some meat. After Si Yan took it, Ming Yan silently turned and walked away.
Hu Que passed by. Because of the Jie Ling incident, he held some resentment toward Si Yan. He spoke to her mockingly, "As males, you four brothers are really weak, all acting so precious."
Si Yan smiled indifferently.
Seeing her unresponsive, Hu Que grew even angrier and huffed, "So frail and delicate, just like a female. You’re so grown up yet you don’t have a Beast Crystal—even worse than your younger brothers!"
Si Yan disregarded Hu Que. Hu Que felt as if he had punched cotton, his frustration growing.
Having seen fire in Si Yan’s cave the previous night, Ming Yan guessed she possessed the ability to summon fire. He glanced at the female struggling with the raw meat, guessing she might want cooked food. However, to protect her, he couldn’t let her summon fire in front of everyone. He realized he was starting to care about her, a discovery he found somewhat amusing.
He sat not far from Si Yan, then his fingers edged closer to a pile of wood in front of him. WHOOSH! The flames ignited.
The burning fire drew the attention of many Tiger Beastmen, and many of them howled loudly, "Lord Ming Yan, son of the Tiger God!!!"
The significance of fire was immense. Si Yan hadn’t expected Ming Yan to actually possess a Special Ability, and a Fire-Based Supernatural Ability at that. Was his finger a lighter?
Ming Yan withdrew his hand, no longer looking at her. He stood up and left, as if the Beastman who had just helped her light the fire had not been him.
Si Yan understood his kindness and whispered, in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Thank you."
Ming Yan paused for a moment before stepping away.
"Mother," Dongchi asked softly, "does he know you’re a female?"
Si Yan’s heart skipped a beat. "How do you know?"
Dongchi’s gaze seemed to say, We’re not stupid.
"Lord Ming Yan," Hu Yong said, limping up from behind Ming Yan.
Ming Yan mumbled to himself, "The Fierce Flame Day is here, and her Beast Husband let his female and cubs face it alone. That’s truly too much."
Hu Yong asked, "Lord Ming Yan?"
Ming Yan came back to his senses and rubbed his forehead. Was he done for? He knew he shouldn’t, yet his eyes and thoughts were completely glued to her.
Hu Yong glanced at Ming Yan, then at Si Yan, whom Ming Yan was watching, and said slowly, "Ming Yan, it doesn’t matter if you like a male; after all, females are quite fickle. As your uncle, as long as I see you’re happy, I’m happy."
The large Black Tiger Beastman Ming Yan’s hand twitched slightly, and his face grew even darker.
As night fell, the strong Black Tiger Beastman returned to where Si Yan was.
The Tiger Beastmen of Black Tiger City had long since tacitly accepted that Si Yan was a favorite of the Lord of the Castle, so they found Ming Yan’s presence there unsurprising.
Ming Yan fiddled with the fire. Si Yan sensed he had something to say, so she sat down beside him.
Feeling the small female settle next to him, Ming Yan stole a glance and asked casually, "Si Yan, where is your Beast Husband?"
"I don’t know," Si Yan answered.
"You don’t know any of them?" Ming Yan pressed.
"No, not ’any of them,’" Si Yan said slowly. "I currently have just one Beast Husband. I’ve been raising the cubs by myself since they were born. As for that Beast Husband of mine, I don’t know where he is."
Ming Yan’s dark eyes deepened. "You’ve only contracted one Beast Husband? Females in the Beast World strengthen their power by contracting Beast Husbands. Why don’t you contract a few more?"
Si Yan hadn’t expected him to ask such personal questions. After thinking for a moment, she answered seriously, "Feelings should be mutual. If my relationship with my husband falls apart, we can separate. But as long as the marriage continues, I cannot seek a second husband."
Si Yan picked up the roasted meat. "A person lives in this world bearing various responsibilities, and family is one of them. No matter how the outside world pressures me, I don’t want to abandon my responsibilities. As for the power you mentioned, I can also gain it through my own cultivation."
Ming Yan was so shocked by Si Yan’s words that he couldn’t recover for a long time. In his vision, a light completely different from anything in this world began to appear. A female devoted to her partner, a female who understood respect and responsibility. He had never seen such a female before. This kind of female was utterly captivating.
Si Yan said, "Dongchi, Xi Qing, Bei Ji, I’ve taught you numbers before. Now I’ll teach you a game—rock-paper-scissors."
"Mother, what are scissors, and what is paper?"
A while later, Bei Ji said excitedly, "I know how to play now! Mother... Brother Si Yan, may I ask you a question?"
Si Yan asked, "What question? There’s no question in this world I can’t answer!"
Bei Ji grinned and asked seriously, "When is zero bigger than two, and when is two bigger than five?"
Dongchi approached, smiling brightly. "Bei Ji is talking about rock-paper-scissors."
Ming Yan watched the family smile together. His chest felt tight and warm.