Hu Yan’s cold gaze didn’t waver, but for a brief second, his eyes darkened... as if something in Luo Chen’s words stirred a memory deep inside him.
But then it was gone.
He stepped forward; his expression became complicated as he realized the words. That meant Luo Chen was already abandoned, and he had hidden it from everyone.
Because everyone knew an abandoned beastman had only one outcome, and that was to become an evil stray beast, whether they wanted to or not. They had no choice.
"You cannot control this... you have chosen your path."
He felt a little bit of pity for him, but it died down because he actually dared to target his female, which was enough for him to kill him.
And most importantly, he had hidden the fact from everyone that he was becoming a stray. Now Hu Yan could only imagine how many females and beastmen he had harmed in the meantime.
Hu Yan’s fist clenched as this thought refused to leave his mind.
Luo Chen laughed softly again, his voice barely a whisper now. "Yeah... maybe you’re right. Maybe this was the only path left for someone like me."
He looked down at himself. The bald, broken, filthy bird staring back at him wasn’t someone he recognized anymore.
He whispered to himself, "Guess I was born to become a stray beast after all."
And then... silence.
Luo Chen didn’t stop his mumbling.
He kept laughing and talking to himself, his words twisting like a knife in everyone’s chest.
Some of the beastmen stared at him, their eyes full of confusion and pity.
They didn’t know what to do.
Because everyone knew...
Once a beastman was abandoned, once his mark was torn away, there was no saving him.
No matter how strong his will, the beast inside would slowly rot.
They would lose control, lose their reason, and finally turn into a stray beast.
And once that happened, death was the only end.
A heavy silence spread among the tribe.
No one dared to speak, their hearts heavy with a strange mix of sorrow and disgust.
Yes, they pitied him.
But pity could not erase his crime.
He had harmed their tribe. He had hurt their females. And all while hiding the truth about what he was becoming.
Su Mingxuan’s face had turned completely cold.
His jaw tightened, his eyes hard and filled with regret.
He had personally saved Luo Chen years ago.
He had believed in him, trusted him, and even given him a home within the tribe.
And now he realized the truth...The beastman he had once saved was already lost.
He had become a stray right under his nose.
Which meant... Su Mingxuan himself had unknowingly endangered his entire tribe.
And even worse, he endangered his daughter.
His hands clenched tightly at his sides. His voice, when he finally spoke, was like frozen stone.
"Unbelievable," he muttered. "I couldn’t even recognize it."
Before anyone could reply, a strange laugh broke the silence again.
Luo Chen raised his head. His face was twisted, his eyes bloodshot but strangely clear.
"I became evil because I had no choice," he said, smiling bitterly. "I never wanted this. I never wanted to become evil."
Then his smile faded, replaced by something cold and hateful.
"But what about her?"
He suddenly lifted his shaking hand and pointed straight at Bai Lianhua.
The crowd turned instantly. Bai Lianhua froze in place, her face pale as paper. She had been quietly trying to move back, hiding behind others, but now she was exposed under everyone’s eyes.
"She’s the true evil one," Luo Chen hissed. "Because of females like her, beastmen like me are abandoned!"
Gasps rippled through the tribe.
Bai Lianhua’s lips trembled. "W-What are you talking about?!" She stammered, her voice shaky.
But Luo Chen didn’t stop. His words poured out like venom.
"She harmed more females than I ever did," he spat. "She’s the one who wanted to kill Su Qinglan. Why? Because she wanted Hu Yan for herself."
The tribe exploded.
"What?!"
"She wanted Hu Yan?!"
"But he’s already mated!"
"That’s... disgusting!"
Bai Lianhua’s face turned red, then white, then red again. "H-He’s lying!" she screamed. "He’s framing me! Don’t believe him!"
But Luo Chen only sneered, his mouth twisting into a bitter grin.
"Framing you?" he repeated, laughing hoarsely. "What would I gain from that? I’m already dying. My beast core is almost gone. My blood’s already rotting. You think I’d waste my last breath lying for fun?"
His laughter grew louder, wild, and cracked. "No, Bai Lianhua... this is the only repayment I can give to the tribe that once took me in. I’ve already lost everything. But you..."
He pointed at her again, his bloody finger trembling. "You still have your fake tears, your fake kindness, and your fake face. Let them see who you really are."
The tribe fell silent again.
Bai Lianhua was shaking now. Her lips quivered, but no words came out. She looked around desperately for support, but even those who once admired her couldn’t meet her eyes.
Whispers began spreading through the crowd again.
"So it’s true?"
"She wanted another female’s mate?"
"No wonder she always clung around Hu Yan before..."
"She’s not gentle at all...she’s disgusting!"
Bai Lianhua stumbled back, panic rising in her chest. "N-No! It’s not true! Please, believe me! I...I didn’t..."
But no one moved.
Even Su Mingxuan’s face looked grim, unreadable. Hu Yan’s eyes burned with quiet rage, and Xuan Long’s expression didn’t change at all; he was simply watching, as if waiting for the show to end and then going back home to cuddle his female.
Luo Chen laughed one last time, though the sound was weaker now.
"Heh... guess that’s it," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "At least... I did something right before dying."
"Now it’s your turn to believe me or not; I’ve already paid for my sins..." he said with a small laugh before his hands turned into sharp talons, which he lunged straight at his own neck.
He coughed, blood spilling from his lips, and fell forward, motionless.
The wind blew softly through the clearing, carrying the scent of dirt and blood.
No one had ever anticipated this move from him; it was too late before they could stop him. He had ruthlessly torn apart his own neck.