Si Shuo's body trembled as she dug through the original owner's memories for information about the female cave.
Females with low fertility, overly frail bodies, and no Beast Husband to provide for them would be sent by the tribe to a nearby female cave. There, they would serve as tools for males who had no female or had lost their Beast Mark to relieve their violent urges.
Females who entered the female cave had almost no chance of ever coming out, and very few could survive for more than five years!
Si Shuo finally understood. Even without any system missions, the very design of the Beast World Continent was forcing her to adapt to its customs.
A look of helplessness flashed in her eyes. 'My life is always on the line.' She hurriedly shook her head. "No, I'm not going!"
Seeing the panicked look on her face, Yu Jiao smiled and patted her hand soothingly. "Alright, alright, we won't go. Listen to me. Pick a Level 3 Beast Husband that no other female wants, one who doesn't mind you not having children. With my help from now on, Si Shuo, you won't go hungry."
Si Shuo nodded vigorously, but out of the corner of her eye, her gaze was locked on that Gray Lion Beastman.
The first mission the system had given her was to choose a Sixth Level Beastman as her first Beast Husband within three days and obtain his Beast Mark!
This was because the original owner's first Mating Period after coming of age was about to begin. If not handled properly, it was said she would succumb to her beastly instincts—excreting anywhere, howling, and even running away from home...
'As a civilized person from the modern era, I can't accept myself going feral. It's too mortifying.'
Soon, the coming-of-age ceremony began. The High Priest of the Luoni Tribe walked onto the stage with six Guardians. After leading everyone in worshiping the Beast God, he began to speak solemnly:
"For the first coming-of-age ceremony after winter, two hundred seventy-five males of our Luoni Tribe will come of age and receive their marks. From now on, you will bear the responsibility of protecting females and propagating superior offspring.
"The Beast Mark is a gift to us Beastmen from the Beast God. From the moment we accept it, it signifies our vow to remain faithful to one female for life..."
Upon hearing this, Si Shuo's tense heart found a small measure of comfort.
'Even with monogamy in the modern world, there's often little trust or loyalty between partners. I never expected that in this primitive Beast World, faithfulness would be a matter of belief.'
As the High Priest chanted an ode to the Beast God, he rapidly drew golden runes in the air. The runes drifted toward the chests of the male Beastmen on the stage, gradually forming into Beast Marks patterned after their respective Beast Forms!
The Beastmen who received their Beast Marks turned and quickly walked over to line up before the females they had already set their sights on.
All two hundred and seventy-something male Beastmen walked right past Si Shuo without a second glance!
Yu Jiao pursed her lips, her face filled with coy bashfulness as she looked at Liwa and the several powerful Beastmen lined up behind him.
She didn't forget to grab Si Shuo's hand and offer some helpless-sounding comfort. "Don't lose heart, Si Shuo. After we females are done choosing, maybe one of the males will pick you."
Si Shuo's lips twitched. It would be a lie to say she wasn't dejected. 'Am I really that unpresentable?'
Ma Hui, who stood nearby, was clearly in a good mood. She snorted. "Yu Jiao, it's not like these guys are idiots. A blue-eyed white cat is a Mutated Beast, and she's deaf from birth. You expect someone to mate with her and have a bunch of deaf cubs?
"A deaf male Beastman would be courting death the moment he left the tribe, and that's not even mentioning her low fertility and weak body.
"Who would be willing to throw away their entire life just for a few years of her pretty face?"
A chill ran through Si Shuo's heart, and she couldn't help but ask the system, 'Will I give birth to cubs with birth defects?'
System: "Rest assured, Host. Your body has been modified. It has no genetic defects and is a natural body for absorbing energy! Any male Beastman who mates with you, and any cubs you bear, will have their talent upgraded."
Si Shuo fell silent for a moment as a blush crept across her face. 'I think I get it now,' she thought. 'So I'm basically a natural cultivation cauldron?'
Soon, it was the females' turn to choose their Beast Husbands. Yu Jiao chose Liwa as her first Beast Husband, Chazi, a Level 5 Earth Element Golden Leopard Beastman, as her second, and Bu Meng, a Level 5 Wood Element Brown Bear Beastman, as her third!
The third round was open selection. Yu Jiao called over several males of the Third and Fourth Levels, but the moment they heard it was to be Si Shuo's Beast Husband, they just waved their hands dismissively and hurried away.
In her past life, Si Shuo had been frequently hospitalized and had never attended a single day of school. Her parents had hired private tutors to teach her one-on-one.
She was thin-skinned and wasn't good at interacting with people. Now, as the crowd stared with a mixture of pity, contempt, and morbid curiosity, she was so overwhelmed with shame and indignation that tears welled in her eyes. She wanted to bury her head in the ground.
Si Shuo believed that heaven never closes all doors. 'System, besides Liwa, are there any other Beastmen in the Luoni Tribe who fit the main mission's criteria?'
After a quick search, the system provided the information: Zhi Le, Liwa's older half-brother through their mother. He was once a Level 6 Thunder Element Snow Leopard Beastman, but while saving Liwa, he was unfortunately stripped of his superpower by a gang of Rogue Beastmen, leaving him crippled. However, Host, do not worry. His superpower was only taken from him; it can be restored and even upgraded through your body!
Si Shuo quietly let out a sigh of relief. 'This is much less difficult, and it would be a mutually beneficial union. To survive, I don't mind using some... special methods when necessary.'
"Liwa, Si Shuo is my own sister; I can't bear to watch her go to the female cave. You're Chief Wu Chuan's son, so please help me think. See if there's a Beastman who would be suitable for her."
Yu Jiao tugged on Liwa's arm, shaking it gently as she pleaded coquettishly. "I was afraid I'd be lonely coming to the Luoni Tribe, so I specifically brought her along. As long as she doesn't have to go to the female cave, anyone will do!"
Liwa smiled dotingly and ruffled Yu Jiao's hair. "Alright, let me think."
Chazi, standing behind them, let out a strange laugh. "What about Zhi Le? He's Liwa's brother. A perfect match for Yu Jiao's sister. One had his Level 6 Superpower stripped away, the other is a little deaf girl who can't have kids. A perfect pair!"
Si Shuo held her breath, almost suspecting that Chazi was a reinforcement sent by the system.
Yu Jiao blinked, then hurriedly started shaking Liwa's arm again. "Liwa, let's go with Zhi Le! Hmph. Those Third and Fourth Level males look down on my Si Shuo. I'm going to find her a Sixth Level Beast Husband instead. He's your brother, you must have a way to make it happen, right?"
Liwa glanced at Si Shuo, who stood there timidly with her head bowed, her messy white hair a mess and her body frail. He nodded. "My Mother will probably agree."
Yu Jiao happily pulled Si Shuo away. "This is wonderful! Liwa, hurry home and tell your Mother about this. And while you're at it, when you're choosing the caves, make sure our two families end up next to each other! Si Shuo and I will wait for you all to come get us."
The male Beastmen all smiled along, thinking their female was both beautiful and kind.
Back at the cave, Yu Jiao cupped Si Shuo's face. As she looked at Si Shuo's delicate, pure features, a flash of jealousy flickered in the depths of her eyes. She smiled and brought up Zhi Le. "You don't have to go to the female cave now, Si Shuo. Aren't you happy? And we'll still get to be neighbors."
Si Shuo smiled faintly. "I am. Thank you, sister!"
Yu Jiao turned to pack her things, a cold, grim satisfaction underlying her muttering. 'What an idiot. A Level 6 male who had his superpower stripped away must have had his very foundation damaged. He's practically a cripple.
'It's just like when Mother stripped you of your superior fertility and transferred it to me. Your body completely broke down afterward; it's a miracle you've even lived this long.
'If you have to blame someone, blame yourself for being a Mutated Cat. You were never worthy of having superior fertility.
'Now you don't have to go to the female cave, and you even have a "Level 6" Beast Husband. My debt to you is paid!'