An Jin struggled out of Mi Yin’s embrace, taking a gulp of fresh air and retreating two steps.
She took his long, cool fingers in hers, and they started walking toward the city. "I managed to get you permission to stay for a few days," she said gently. "You need to rest and recover in the city, understand?"
She glanced back at his wounds, her expression filled with heartache.
Snakes were afraid of fire, and he had faced it to save her. It was only right that she help him until he was fully healed.
An Jin glanced at his conspicuous black-and-red snake tail and, after some thought, said, "Maybe... you should put your tail away for now. It might cause a panic when we enter the city."
"Alright."
Before she could react, Mi Yin swiftly transformed his snake tail into human legs. His tall, slender frame was completely exposed—and stark naked.
An Jin was left speechless.
Her face flushed as she turned away, but the next second, Mi Yin scooped her back into his cool embrace.
Fortunately, he had already draped his Snake Shedding over himself, covering his private areas.
An Jin breathed a sigh of relief. Since she couldn’t struggle free, she simply let him hold her.
Seeing the female sigh, Mi Yin’s heart clenched. His male instincts couldn’t help but wander. ’Is Jin’er not satisfied with me?’
Mi Yin was gripped by an unprecedented panic. He remained outwardly impassive, but his expression turned somber.
Preoccupied, he carried the female to the city gate. The Beastman Warriors on guard tensed, gripping their Stone Spears tightly. Dozens of hostile gazes made Mi Yin grow agitated.
’If An Jin hadn’t forbidden him from killing indiscriminately, he would have already lashed out with his tail.’
Sensing the thick killing intent radiating from him, An Jin gently tugged his arm. As his gaze met her endearing, dark brown eyes, the murderous glint in them vanished instantly, and his heart softened into a puddle.
"It’s nothing."
He soothingly stroked her long, soft hair and held her a little tighter, passing through the city gate as if no one else existed.
After all, they had the City Lord’s orders, so the Beastman Warriors didn’t stop him. They merely watched the retreating Snake Beast with continued vigilance.
Perhaps because he’d been a Wandering Beast for so long, or maybe because he was afraid of causing a commotion, Mi Yin stuck to quiet, deserted corners. ’This snake might have social anxiety,’ An Jin thought.
Ever since hatching, Mi Yin had lived a primitive life in the jungle, accustomed to the solitary existence of a Wandering Beast. He had no experience living in a tribe or a city.
Afraid he wouldn’t get along with her tribesmen and might cause trouble, An Jin gave him a series of detailed warnings.
They arrived at the large, stone courtyard where her people lived.
The gate was shut tight. ’Most of the Beastmen must be out hunting,’ she figured. Her fingertips, resting on the wooden gate, trembled slightly with hesitation.
Ling Hong and her people didn’t know about this yet.
’I believe Mi Yin won’t hurt anyone without reason,’ she thought, ’but convincing Ling Hong and the others to set aside their prejudice against Wandering Beasts is going to be a problem.’
As luck would have it, just then, the sound of heavy, frantic footsteps echoed from behind them.
Ling Hong was returning with the Hunting Team in tow.
Before An Jin could even react, a black-and-red serpentine shadow flashed past her. A fierce gust of wind swept by, and the air behind them filled with cries of agony.
Several Wolf Beasts, their sneak attack failing, were sent flying into tree trunks by a whip of the Snake Beast’s tail. Ling Hong, reacting faster, leaped into a tree and barely dodged the blow.
When he saw An Jin in the Snake Beast’s arms, his pupils constricted in shock. Thinking the Wandering Beast was abducting her, he instantly transformed into a slender Silver Wolf and lunged, aiming to tear into the black-and-red tail.
"HISS~"
Mi Yin flicked his forked tongue, his expression dark and dangerous. His scarlet serpentine eyes narrowed into terrifying, blade-like slits. His nearly ten-meter-long tail tensed, writhing and scraping against the ground.
"Wait, stop fighting!"
An Jin rushed to grab Mi Yin, trying to stop him, not understanding why they had suddenly started fighting. "Did you forget what I told you? Attacking someone in the city will get you thrown—"
Before she could finish, Mi Yin’s tail coiled around her and swept her several meters away.
Then, the two sides clashed.