Chapter Thirty: The Second Beastmaster

After waiting for quite a while, He still hadn’t received any response from Yun Li.

“Ali?”

She looked at Yun Li with curiosity, only to find her resting her chin on her hand, her eyes filled with a hint of curiosity as she gazed back.

“You said I already have three beast-husbands busy working for the tribe. Why would I still want to go out with the gathering team? Are all the females in the tribe supposed to go help collect food now?”

“Of course not.”

He’s face showed some embarrassment. “I just thought maybe you wanted to train, so you’d want to go out of the tribe for a bit. I figured if you’re just idling at home, you might be willing to go with the gathering team. If you don’t want to, then forget it.”

He only wanted Yun Li to lead by example. If a female with three beast-husbands of the Blue Rank was willing to join the gathering team, then persuading the other females would be easier.

But it was clear Yun Li didn’t want to take the risk now, and He felt conflicted. If she didn’t go, then wouldn’t she have to join the gathering team herself?

After all, if even the chief’s wife was unwilling to go, the other females would likely refuse, fearing danger.

Then his first beast-husband, Mang, would surely complain. He wouldn’t want the tribe’s food supplies to fall short simply because the females refused to cooperate.

Before leaving, He made one last effort. “Ali, I suddenly remembered something. Mu Qing asked us to check how your life was on the gathering team, right?

I asked around and found out you didn’t have a good time there before. It wasn’t just Lv Cao; even Chun Cao and others bullied you.

Mang and I, bound by the tribe’s rules, can’t severely punish females who haven’t committed serious mistakes, but we can assign them to the farthest gathering teams with the least harvest.

It was just that before, Mang and I were too busy to take care of you. From now on, we promise this won’t happen again.”

He spoke earnestly, hoping to see some sign of emotion on Yun Li’s face.

But to his disappointment, although she smiled sincerely, she didn’t respond as he hoped.

“Thank you.”

Yun Li was well aware of what fate had befallen those females. Without Mu Qing, Leng Xiao, and the others willing to take their beast-husbands hunting, their family lives were harsh. To ease their burdens, they had to venture out almost every two or three days.

That was a far cry from their previous life, when each female had a male provider and only went out two or three times a month.

Now that He wanted to assign them to other gathering teams, their lives would only get harder.

Thinking of this, Yun Li couldn’t help but smile quietly.

Since Mu Qing and the others were unwilling, she decided to stay at home for now.

Maybe once she and Leng Xiao officially became mates, she’d reconsider and decide whether to join the gathering team a few times.

He left unwillingly.

After that day, He never appeared before Yun Li again. Mu Qing and the others often left early and returned late, but no matter how busy they were, someone would always come back at noon to prepare her lunch.

As the tribe’s atmosphere grew tenser, Yun Li grabbed Leng Xiu, who was about to bring her lunch, and asked:

“Do you want to become my mate this noon?”

They had been living together for nearly half a month, yet their relationship remained only nominal.

Leng Xiao was so anxious he wished a flood would come immediately so they could all hide in the cave outside Mu Qing’s former tribe and avoid constantly watching over his female, afraid she might ignite passion at night.

Leng Xiu was surprised that Yun Li chose him first. “I thought you’d pick Leng Xiao as your second beast-husband?”

Yun Li was silent for a moment, then looked at him with a hint of disbelief. “You’ve been the one making my lunch these past few days.”

Clearly, his younger brother was no match for him.

Leng Xiu hadn’t expected that this mundane reason would make him Yun Li’s first beast-husband. He even felt sorry for his foolish younger brother for two seconds.

Leng Xiao hadn’t come back for lunch these days because he was busy planning a surprise for Yun Li.

But she was clearly misunderstanding the situation. Leng Xiu wasn’t about to explain now and lose this opportunity.

He wrapped his arm around Yun Li’s waist and whispered, “Shall we go inside now?”

Yun Li nodded, but before they began, she asked, “Is there enough time?”

“No, but I can stay late.”

Leng Xiu lifted her up and headed inside.

“Mm…”

The female let out a muffled moan of discomfort. Leng Xiu kissed her eyebrows gently until she was fully attuned to his presence, then slowly began.

The atmosphere inside the room grew increasingly heated…

That night, Leng Xiao returned to find that Yun Li had already bonded with his brother. He demanded to bond with Yun Li immediately.

“Not tomorrow.”

Leng Xiu pushed him away without hesitation, refusing on Yun Li’s behalf.

“Why? You’re not Ali. Ali, you already accepted my brother, so why not me immediately? I can make Ali happy too.”

Leng Xiao, a wolf-beastman, clung to Yun Li like a clingy dog, even cuddling her and acting spoiled.

Yun Li laughed and patted his head. “Your brother is right. Tomorrow really isn’t possible.”

Leng Xiao ground his teeth. “Are you bewitched by my brother? I’m no worse than him.”

Yun Li’s face flushed so red she almost slapped him. “All the more reason to wait. Don’t you know my body can’t handle it?”

Leng Xiu was no less capable than Mu Qing, and perhaps even more experienced, so Yun Li had suffered a lot.

If Leng Xiao joined in, she’d be bedridden.

Leng Xiao was stunned. He glared fiercely at his brother, then meekly snuggled up to Yun Li again. “Fine, I’ll wait two more days, but after that, you have to take me. Otherwise, those two will bully me to death.”

Mu Qing laughed at Leng Xiao’s shamelessness. “If we bully you, want us to do it now and see?”

Mu Qing and Leng Xiao were opposites: one straightforward and genuine, the other hypocritical and scheming.

Neither could match Leng Xiao’s frankness and affection toward Yun Li.

Though Yun Li spoke more seriously to Mu Qing and Leng Xiu, it was Leng Xiao who often whispered gossip to her at home.

So if they ever bullied him, Yun Li would be the first to oppose it.

Leng Xiu crushed a piece of wood in his hand but spoke gently, “He really needs to be disciplined.”

Yun Li quickly intervened, “Let’s talk things out properly. And you—don’t say things that make people hate you when there’s no reason. Are you not afraid of getting beaten?”

Leng Xiao huffed, “Beat me if you want. If I get hurt, it’s a good excuse to stay home. I’m not in the mood to go hunting anyway.”

Among the three males at home, he was the only one without a status. He was nearly driven mad.