Sandy looked seriously at Gu Mengmeng. “In the past, I only took on males whom I liked as my partners, which is why I have so few partners. My stubbornness restricted my family’s power, such that when danger approaches, my partners ended up getting injured over and over again as they endured a one-sided battle. Consequently, my family was reduced from nine to the current four… now that I have these three little ones, I cannot continue being so willful. It is my duty to raise the powers of my family, so I have decided to add more members.”
Gu Mengmeng twisted her lips but didn’t interrupt.
She could not accept the Beast World’s notions on love, but she also could not force others to abide by her own views.
Sandy was not Gu Mengmeng. Her partners were also not as perversely powerful as Elvis and Lea.
She was unable to stay by Sandy’s side forever to protect her. So what right did she have to stop her from getting new partners to raise the powers of her family?
Gu Mengmeng tugged at Sandy’s little hand. “Whatever decision you make, as long as it makes you happy, I will support you.”
Sandy smiled. “I had planned to get new partners during the rainy season, so that our family will have a few more helpers when stockpiling food. Bode and the rest would not have to work so hard then. But now… since I have to take in new partners anyway, why not get a few wolf beasts.”
Gu Mengmeng thought about it for a moment before suddenly understanding Sandy’s intentions. Her smile froze, to be replaced by an aching tenderness.
“You want to use your own partnering to boost the relations between the wolf race and Sauder?” Gu Mengmeng frowned. “Sandy, I don’t object to you raising your family’s power or taking in new partners. But I don’t want you to sacrifice yourself… after all, I still hope that you can choose a partner that you like.”
Sandy cast a lingering look at Collin, who was just returning with Auretin. Both of them were carrying hunted game. Her gaze was warm and gentle. “I already have those whom I really like by my side now, don’t I? Any new partner I choose now will be solely based on their capabilities. Wolf beasts are an outsider race. Their sudden influx will definitely create friction with the snow foxes. Plus the 16 tribes that returned last year—the three sides must be integrated… Hede’s job as a leader will be no easy task. The relations with the snow foxes are very complex and intertwined, and not something which I can interfere with. Meanwhile, the 16 tribes are keeping their distance from us because of Auretin. It will be too difficult trying to convince them…”
Sighing, Sandy smiled at Gu Mengmeng. “The wolf race is different. Elvis is the wolf king, while Hede and Jialue are the young masters of the wolf race. It’s just that the current powers of the two youngsters are still inadequate. All is well when Elvis is around, but you and Elvis will not be in Sauder all the time. When you leave, I am worried that Hede and Jialue—these two first-level young punks—will not be able to control that pack of wolf beasts… by then, the situation will be even more chaotic.”
For this past year, Sandy had done all she could to look after Hede and Jialue. She had more or less gifted Collin over to those two young punks, as she was worried that they would be at an disadvantage in the outside world. She had fretted over them even more than Gu Mengmeng herself.
Having undergone much trials and tribulations—this formerly naive and carefree little female was now gradually able to understand and analyze situations better.
Too many things had happened this past year. Without realizing it, Sandy had matured.
Gu Mengmeng’s heart ached for Sandy’s maturation, which had only come about from the gradual accumulation of pain and suffering.