018 How about I take you into the water?

So, this is how a beast form can transform?

Li Yue watched You Lie move forward, his snake tail swaying. His speed was on par with the beast forms of her other mates, perhaps even steadier, with only the faint sound of his tail brushing against the ground. Her gaze fell upon his arm and suddenly froze.

The beast ring that had been on the verge of the Yellow Rank just yesterday had now turned a deep, lustrous green. It was clear he had successfully broken through after absorbing the Green Rank beast crystal.

Li Yue glanced at You Lie’s cheeks, still flushed from the lingering effects of his rut. She couldn't help but guess that his sudden entry into the rut before the season arrived must have been linked to his breakthrough. When a male in the beast world breaks through to a new tier, the violent surge of beast energy within him often triggers a loss of control. Combined with the fact that he was already nearing his rut, it was likely the combination of the two that had made him unable to restrain himself.

You Lie, still in the throes of his rut, kept his attention almost entirely on the little female held securely in his arms. She leaned quietly against his chest, her long eyelashes drooping and fluttering gently like butterfly wings. She looked exceptionally well-behaved, though he had no idea what she was thinking. He couldn't help but slow the rhythm of his snake tail, tightening his arm around her to ensure she was held even more steadily.

Suddenly, the tip of his tail struck a protruding stone. You Lie stumbled, and Li Yue subconsciously reached out to wrap her arms around his neck. Her warm breath brushed against his skin instantly.

"My apologies. There are too many stones on the ground; I wasn't paying attention." You Lie’s voice was raspy. He swept his gaze over the gravel-covered path and added, "The stones are too dense here. You had better hold onto my neck so you don't fall."

Li Yue looked down at the ground. It was indeed covered in pebbles of all sizes. The jolt had nearly shaken her off, so she nodded and lightly wrapped her arms around his neck. You Lie could feel her fingertips touching the skin of his neck—soft and delicate.

The mates following behind cast strange glances their way. Jin Ye’s eyes widened, a surge of inexplicable emotion churning within him. If not for You Lie’s sudden rut, Li Yue would have been riding on his back today. After realizing his strange train of thought, Jin Ye paused, ultimately dismissing the feeling as frustration over having the chance to be close to her snatched away by You Lie.

Chi Yu let out a soft scoff, his expression full of disdain for You Lie’s clumsy tactics, though he slowed his own pace. Si Qi frowned, a glimmer of worry flashing in his amber eyes. Only Lan Xi, inside the wooden barrel carried by the snake tail, watched the pair ahead. His purple eyes were as deep as dark pools, his fingertips tracing the edge of the barrel as he pondered, his expression inscrutable.

You Lie sensed their gazes, but instead of backing down, he curled his lips into a faint smile and tightened his hold on Li Yue.

Li Yue was lost in thought and completely oblivious to the subtle tension between her mates. She was thinking about her space, which had suddenly changed its appearance. Yesterday, when she entered, it had been nothing more than a five-square-meter corner filled with thick fog. Today, it had transformed: thirty square meters of black soil glistened with vitality, and a small pool of spirit spring water had appeared in the corner.

What exactly had triggered the upgrade? Was it the blood she lost when the giant crocodile python bit her yesterday? But she remembered that no blood had touched her necklace. Or could it be... related to the kiss with You Lie?

At the thought of that sudden kiss, Li Yue frowned slightly. Compared to the piercing pain of being bitten by a beast, she would much rather it be triggered by a kiss. After all, being injured was far too agonizing; just recalling the pain of her torn wounds made her shudder, and her face turned a shade paler.

You Lie’s attention had never left the little female in his arms. Seeing her shiver and turn pale, he paused even his steady snake-like movement and instinctively softened his voice. "What’s wrong? Are you cold?"

Li Yue was pulled from her thoughts by his voice. She looked up and met his deep, dark red eyes. It was the hot season, and the midday sun was scorching the ground; cold was the last thing she could be. You Lie was a cold-blooded beastman, and holding him was like holding a natural ice pack, which was perfect for this sweltering weather.

She shook her head, pushing the thoughts of the space aside for the moment. "No, I'm not cold. How much longer until we reach the rest stop?"

You Lie looked toward the forest ahead, his tail swaying gently to avoid the debris. His voice was even softer than before. "Once we pass through that oak forest, we’ll find a stream. There are large rocks by the water that provide shade, and we’ll rest there. We should arrive soon."

Li Yue nodded, planning to test the spirit spring water in her space once they stopped to see what effects it truly had. Although her scratched fingers had been bandaged, they weren't fully healed; if the spring really had healing properties, she would have more security for surviving in this beast world. However, thinking about how little water there was in the spring, she couldn't help but wonder again about how to upgrade the space.

Her gaze drifted unconsciously to You Lie’s lips, and that absurd speculation resurfaced. Could kissing really upgrade the space?

Yesterday, the space had indeed changed after they kissed, but what if it were just a coincidence?

While she was distracted, You Lie suddenly looked down, his dark red eyes filled with a trace of inquiry, as if he had caught her staring. Li Yue’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly averted her gaze.

What was she thinking? It was too dangerous. She had almost forgotten that he was a ruthless, cold-blooded villain. Don't let the apparent obedience of these villains fool you; it was only because of the mate-bond marking that restrained them. Once that bond was broken, she would surely suffer.

Let the space stay small; finding her father was the priority.

Watching Li Yue’s flustered attempt to hide, You Lie curled his lips into a smile, his rebellious features softening. He adjusted his posture to hold her more securely and said in a low, clear voice, "We are resting over there."

As he spoke, he gestured toward the front. Ahead lay a forest, and the shimmering surface of a stream was faintly visible. A few massive rocks by the water could block the midday sun, clearly a pre-selected spot for a break.

Slowing his pace, You Lie carefully avoided the loose stones, terrified of jostling the little female in his arms. Before long, he gently placed Li Yue onto a flat rock.

As her feet touched the ground, Li Yue couldn't help but let out a long sigh. Although it was meant to speed up their journey, being held by You Lie in his half-human form was far more awkward than riding on Jin Ye’s beast back. Her nerves had been taut the whole time, and she could finally relax for a moment.

The other mates followed suit, reverting to their human forms and sitting down to rest not far from Li Yue.

Li Yue looked at the clear stream, longing to wash up, but the memory of being dragged into the water by the giant crocodile python yesterday made her skin crawl. How could she possibly suggest going into the water now?

Just as she was hesitating, You Lie leaned over, his dark red eyes reflecting her image, and his low voice sounded in her ear: "Want to take a bath? Shall I take you into the water?"