She gaped at them, speechless, while both of them looked at her expectantly. Hu Yan’s eyes glowed with mischief, and Xuan Long’s calm face didn’t help at all...it somehow made the situation ten times worse.
Where did my life go wrong? She screamed internally. Why am I surrounded by giant shameless beasts asking me to blow on their faces like babies?!
She tried to ignore them, but Hu Yan growled, tail puffing up in annoyance. "Hey! Don’t copy me! I asked first!" he said, glaring at Xuan Long.
Xuan Long turned his head slightly, meeting his glare with that quiet, sharp stare that could freeze the air itself. He didn’t even speak, but Hu Yan’s tail drooped instantly.
The silence that followed was so awkward that Su Qinglan even forgot her embarrassment.
Hu Yan grumbled under his breath, poking the fire angrily while Xuan Long sat straight, pretending nothing had happened. The fire crackled between them, and the tension was ridiculous.
Su Qinglan just sighed deeply. "You two..." she muttered. "Did something happen between... you know, you can tell me."
She didn’t even know how to scold them anymore. She just didn’t want any misunderstanding between them, because if anyone was hurt, she would feel heartache for them.
But just when she thought that they might not tell her anything and it was probably useless to ask them, Hu Yan’s voice came again...soft, low, almost sad.
"Lan Lan," he mumbled, eyes down. "I... I accept if you take him as your beast husband."
Su Qinglan blinked, not sure she heard that right. "Huh? What did you say?"
Hu Yan didn’t look at her. He kept his gaze fixed on the fire and spoke with a soft voice, "If you like him... I won’t complain," he said softly. "I’ll accept it."
Su Qinglan’s heart thudded. She looked at him, completely thrown off. "Hu Yan, what are you talking about? He’s not..."
Before she could finish, Xuan Long suddenly interrupted. His voice was deep and steady, carrying that calm confidence that always made her nervous.
"I don’t want to be her beast husband," he said, his sharp eyes lifting toward her.
For a moment, her chest tightened in confusion, not knowing what his next words would be.
"I want to be her first beast husband."
Su Qinglan froze completely.
Her mind went blank. Her cheeks burned red hot. "W-what!?" she blurted out, staring at him like he’d just grown two heads.
Hu Yan’s whole body stiffened the moment those words left Xuan Long’s mouth.
"First beast husband?" he growled, his golden eyes flashing with fury. His tail puffed up, claws extending slightly as he stood, ready to pounce at him. "Say that again, you damn snake!"
Xuan Long didn’t even flinch. Sitting there calm as ever, he met Hu Yan’s glare with a cold and steady gaze. "Be careful," he said softly, but the threat in his voice was like a blade against the skin.
"I’m already allowing you to live because Lan Lan likes you. But if you wish to die..." His lips curved slightly. "I won’t stop you."
Hu Yan froze mid-step. His hands clenched into fists, his teeth grinding in frustration, but his heart trembled. Because deep down he knew. Xuan Long wasn’t bluffing. The snake was far more dangerous than he could ever be.
Hu Yan looked down, his breath heavy. He thought of that day...how he had failed to protect Su Qinglan, how she had almost been hurt because he was too weak. The shame burned his chest. It was already her mercy that she didn’t despise him for that.
He wasn’t fit to call himself her husband. Not yet.
And as the ancient laws of the beast world said...if a beastman saves a female, he earns the right to become her beast husband. No one, not even a current mate, could interfere.
Hu Yan’s fists trembled, but his voice was low when he finally spoke. "If he can protect her... then fine. I’ll accept him," he said through clenched teeth. "But the position of first husband..." He lifted his eyes again, glowing with stubborn fire. "That’s mine. Even if I have to fight for it with my last breath."
For a moment, the air around them turned tense again...two powerful auras clashing, making the leaves tremble. The flames flickered wildly between them.
Then, without thinking, Hu Yan moved first, lunging forward. He was already challenged by the damn snake; Xuan Long’s body blurred like a shadow, his hand instantly grabbing Hu Yan’s wrist mid-strike. Their strength collided with a thundering sound.
"Stop!" Su Qinglan shouted, stepping between them, her hands outstretched. "Both of you, stop it already!"
But neither beastman looked at her. Their gazes were locked...one full of wildfire, the other of cold calm.
"I said stop!" she shouted louder this time, forcing them apart. Her heart pounded in her chest as she looked between them. "I don’t even know what any of this means! I never agreed to any..."
Her words cut off when she met Xuan Long’s eyes.
Those deep, dark eyes were fixed on her, glowing faintly with something that made her chest tighten and her breath falter.
Before she could even step back, Xuan Long’s arm moved. He pulled her straight into his embrace.
Su Qinglan gasped, but the sound vanished as his lips immediately claimed hers. Damn! Is he punishing her again for talking without thinking, or is he just proving his dominance in front of Hu Yan? Whatever it is...it was definitely not good for her.
Her mind went blank. She froze, feeling his warmth surround her, the pressure of his arms, and the steady beat of his heart against her chest.
When he finally pulled back just enough to speak, his voice was low and dangerous. "Female," he whispered, eyes locking on hers, "I’ve already pledged myself to you. You’re not allowed to abandon me."
Su Qinglan blinked up at him, heart racing so fast she could barely think.
Then his next words nearly made her faint.
"You’d already taken advantage of me that night," he said, his tone calm but heavy with meaning. "You were glued to me. Every inch of you..."
"Stop!" she cried, her face flaming red.
Without thinking, she reached up and shut him up the only way she could, by pressing her lips to his.
Xuan Long’s eyes widened slightly in surprise before his arms tightened around her, pulling her closer. A deep, satisfied hum escaped his throat.
"That’s it," he murmured against her lips, voice dark and amused. "You have to be responsible now, female."