novelraw Chapter 453 - 452: Who Praises Their Own Female Like That?
Chapter 453 - 452: Who Praises Their Own Female Like That?
Just as Si Shuo was about to be drowned in a sea of sorrow, her reason returned. In an instant, all her emotions vanished like flowers in a mirror or the moon reflected in water.
She pursed her lips, wiped her tears on him, and huffed, "Can’t a girl get emotional over the scenery? Did you really have to expose me like that?"
Wei Ce breathed a silent sigh of relief. He smiled, ruffled her hair, and leaned in to whisper in her ear, "To be honest, Shuo, I much prefer it when you’re bullying me on our stone bed..."
’His little female was so mischievous. With her and the cubs around, life was never dull, always full of laughter and new surprises.’
’Especially when it came to *that*, she always had the most peculiar ideas, teasing him to the point where he was genuinely afraid he’d lose his mind and devour her whole.’
Si Shuo couldn’t help but try to pinch his waist, but the Beastman’s muscles were too solid. Her fingers throbbed with the effort, but she couldn’t get a grip.
Just then, Xiao Cheng leaned in and whispered to Si Shuo about how Liwa had stolen Zhi Le’s talent for his superpower.
Si Shuo ground her teeth. ’It’s true what they say, birds of a feather flock together. No wonder Yu Jiao and Liwa are mates—they both love coveting other people’s things!’
’Fortunately, they wouldn’t need the Beast God this time; Ali could return the misplaced superpower talent to its rightful owner. But still,’ she thought, ’it’s more interesting to let the show play out and reveal the answers one layer at a time.’
Everyone was incredibly welcoming to Zhi Le, and they all invited him to bring his female, cubs, and Couple Brothers to settle in next to their homes.
Cui Tai and Ke Biao laughed as they pushed their way through the crowd. Flanking Zhi Le on either side, they practically escorted him over to the space next to their homes.
"We knew you were coming, so we had someone with an Earth Element Ability build three stone houses ahead of time. They’re not very big, so we hope you don’t mind."
Si Shuo and Zhi Le looked over. Compared to the houses and caves they had lived in on the Central Continent, the new stone houses were indeed small. But in Golden Lion City, land was worth its weight in gold, and everyone’s living quarters were narrow.
Cui Tai’s and Ke Biao’s families only had two rooms each. They had built the three stone houses behind their own homes, right where they used to grow vegetables and seasonings.
Zhi Le smiled and gave them a light punch on the arm. "Did your mates agree to this? We won’t be staying for long. It’s such a pity you pulled up all your vegetables and seasonings for us."
"What are you talking about? If it wasn’t for you, Zhi Le, how could we have had such a massive haul? Do you know how long it’s been since our mates and cubs have been able to eat their fill of meat? We’re the ones who aren’t capable enough, making them suffer along with us," Cui Tai said with a soft sigh. "We really miss our old life in the tribe. Sometimes I think this is all just a nightmare I’ll wake up from..."
’The females and cubs are so frail now, they look like they might not live much longer. Summer is already half over. If we can’t find enough food to survive the rainy season and the harsh winter, who knows what will happen...’
At this thought, Cui Tai’s chest tightened, and he forced a smile onto his face.
Si Shuo’s gaze shifted, and she couldn’t help but ask, "Cui Tai, what’s your mate’s name? Why is her health so poor?"
Cui Tai pursed his lips and sighed softly. "Her name is Meng Yun, and she’s a Deer Beastman. During last year’s Beast Tide, she was constantly terrified and never had enough to eat. On top of that, she caught a bad chill in the winter and has never properly recovered."
Just as he was speaking, the sound of Meng Yun coughing came from inside the house. "Cui Tai, is that Zhi Le and the Si Shuo Divine Female?"
A pale, thin female emerged with a light smile, leaning against the doorframe for support. Her brown, deer-like eyes held a soft warmth.
A Beastman behind her smiled and nodded at Zhi Le’s group before his gaze returned to her, watching her constantly as if afraid she might feel unwell.
Ali directed his Father to go to his Mother’s side, then whispered a couple of things to Si Shuo. What he said was the same as the thoughts Si Shuo had heard from Miao Juan...
Cui Tai strode over with a smile and touched his mate’s hand. "They’re a little warmer now. The wind isn’t too strong outside, Yunyun. How about I take you out for some fresh air and sunshine?"
Meng Yun smiled, pursing her lips as she nodded. "Okay."
Cui Tai scooped her up into his arms and walked over to Si Shuo. "Si Shuo Divine Female, look. This is my mate. Isn’t she sweet and beautiful?"
Amused, Meng Yun tugged on his cheek. "You’re shameless! Who praises their own mate like that? The Si Shuo Divine Female is much more beautiful. You’re lying with your eyes wide open!"
"Nonsense," Cui Tai murmured, his eyes full of warmth. He let his mate pull at his cheek, his gaze fixed on her. "In my eyes, Yunyun is the most beautiful of all."
Meng Yun ignored the trace of sorrowful pity in his gaze and turned her head to speak to Si Shuo. "Si Shuo Divine Female, I heard you went to the Central Continent. What’s it like? Is it true that people in the Beast Cities don’t have to hunt?
Is the grain they grow enough to eat? And... are you going to leave again?"
Si Shuo silently cursed Miao Juan a few times and grumbled about the Beast God while she was at it. She gave a light smile and said, "Each place has its own advantages. Our Beastmen here are tall, powerful, and imposing. One look and you can tell they regularly battle Wild Beasts, which makes you feel very secure. The Beastmen on the Central Continent, on the other hand, mostly farm or do odd jobs. The well-off families can afford dried meat every day and fresh meat every few days, but common families might only eat it a few times a year..."
Meng Yun shook her head again and again. "Oh, that would never do! My family can’t be happy without meat!"
Si Shuo continued her rant, "Beastmen in our Southern Continent place great importance on the Beast Mark, but it’s different over there. The males are afraid of being tied down by a female, so they lose their virginity early on. That way, when the time comes for the marking at their coming-of-age ceremony, they don’t receive a Beast Mark. When they couple with a female, they no longer have to worry about a shortened lifespan or weakened Combat Power. They can even get intimate with other females..."
Meng Yun’s eyes widened. "Without a male’s protection, what about the female’s health?"
"The ones who don’t care about the Beast Mark are usually those with great talent, powerful Combat Power, and strong family backgrounds. But females have more than just two or three Beast Husbands. They also have some ordinary males with average qualifications, and those are the ones who offer up their Beast Marks. They have a low status in the household, and most of the menial and dirty chores fall to them..."
Meng Yun listened intently, her cheeks puffed out in indignation. "How could they do that? The Beast Mark is a symbol of a male’s loyalty, not just something to protect and nourish the female. What’s the difference between a coupling without a Beast Mark and just... shacking up for convenience?
And those females are strange, too. The males without Beast Marks get good treatment and are favored, while those who offer their Beast Marks become like Beast Slaves..."
Si Shuo smiled. "Not all females are like that, but that’s the prevailing attitude over there. It’s probably the result of many different things, like everyone trying to one-up each other."
She suddenly took two steps forward and whispered to Meng Yun, "Meng Yun, if I’m not mistaken, you aren’t sick, nor are you malnourished. Someone has stolen the vitality from your blood and meridians!"
Meng Yun’s eyes widened. She looked up at the equally shocked and bewildered Cui Tai and couldn’t help but ask in a hushed voice, "Si Shuo Divine Female, what do you mean?"
Ji Liang stepped forward, snapped his fingers, and deployed a Protective Shield.
Si Shuo said seriously, "To put it simply, you have a young body, but the vitality in your blood and meridians is like that of an elderly female on the verge of death. It’s been swapped out by someone."