Si Shuo's lips tightened. Just as Yu Jiao had hoped, a sharp tremor ran through her heart. She asked slowly, enunciating each word, "A slim chance of survival?"
Yu Jiao nodded and sighed. "That's right. The tribe's hunts are always done by family units. Since you're mated to Zhi Le, you have to participate if you want to continue enjoying the tribe's protection.
The Wild Beasts in the Dongye Forest have starved all winter. Come spring, every last one of them is ravenous and fierce. We might be hunting them, but they're also just waiting with open jaws for us to deliver ourselves to their door!
My Beast Husbands are fine. No matter which two of them join the spring hunt, their Level 5 and Level 6 Combat Power is enough to bring back a bountiful harvest from the forest's outskirts.
But your Zhi Le, with no superpower and Combat Power that's degraded to Level 3... it'll be a miracle if he comes back in one piece. You'd best prepare yourself..."
Si Shuo clutched the Beast Skins tightly, her breath quickening. 'She's right. On the Beast World Continent, survival is brutal. There's no agriculture, no domesticated animals.'
'To fill their bellies, they must hunt and gather, all while facing the harsh reality of survival of the fittest.'
Yu Jiao patted her on the shoulder, tossed down three First level Crystal Stones, and turned to leave.
Si Shuo grabbed her arm and stuffed the Crystal Stones back into her hand. "Zhi Le said, he'll provide for me. I'm not, to take, other people's things."
Yu Jiao froze, then let out an incredulous, angry laugh. "Si Shuo, how long has it been since we parted ways? And I'm already 'other people' to you? Your big sister is giving you something, so just take it. How many things have I given you over the years!"
"Are you drawing a line between us now? Or are you just waiting for Zhi Le to die before you remember my kindness and come begging me to take you to Nanye City to find new Beast Husbands...?"
Si Shuo angrily shoved her. Her face was grim. "Don't say, die. Zhi Le won't!"
"You're mean. Before, we were family. Things were shared. Si Shuo owes you, nothing!"
Yu Jiao had never been treated this way before. Clutching the Crystal Stones, her face went cold. "Fine. We'll just see how long you two cripples can survive."
With that, she spun around to leave, only to see Zhi Le leaning against the entrance, arms crossed. Her face stiffened, annoyed that her carefully constructed facade of kindness had crumbled. But then, considering Zhi Le's condition, she let out a sarcastic laugh.
"This little sister of mine is just like her Father—cold and ungrateful. You're really something, Zhi Le, to have her protecting you like this!"
Zhi Le didn't even spare her a glance. He walked into the cave and flicked the forehead of a still-pouting Si Shuo. "You believe whatever anyone tells you. Silly girl."
"Besides, it's not like our home is empty. If a seventh and eighth level Crystal Stone went missing, do you think that sister of yours would admit she took it?"
'For a half-cripple, Zhi Le sure talks big,' Yu Jiao seethed. 'Seventh and eighth level Crystal Stones? Does he think they grow on trees, easy for anyone to find?'
She leaped straight down into Bu Meng's arms, whimpering for him to comfort her.
Si Shuo grabbed Zhi Le's hand. She looked at the young man who had just stood up for her and asked worriedly, "Zhi Le is going, to the spring hunt?"
Zhi Le hummed in agreement, but then, realizing she couldn't hear it, he nodded as well. "Don't listen to her nonsense," he said nonchalantly. "Your Beast Husband may not have a superpower, and my Combat Power might be a bit weak, but I use my brain. I can protect myself just fine."
"However," he leaned closer to Si Shuo, a smirk playing on his lips. "After the spring hunt, I'll take you to Nanye City and let you pick out a few more Beast Husbands. What kind of Beast Form do you like in a male, Si Shuo?"
'Just a moment ago, I was worried sick about him,' Si Shuo thought. 'My heart was pounding with fear, just like it used to in my past life whenever my condition flared up.'
'And the very next second, he's talking about picking out other husbands for me! Is he a monster?'
Si Shuo glared at him. "When you, come back from the spring hunt, I'll pick, this many!"
She held both of her hands up in front of him, then flipped them over.
Zhi Le couldn't help but chuckle. He gave her a deliberate once-over and said bluntly, "With a tiny little body like yours? Can you even handle that many?"
Si Shuo's face flushed. 'I'm a complete rookie, I can't even win an argument against a Beastman!'
She watched his calm expression and wondered, 'Is it because we don't have any real feelings for each other yet? Is that why he can talk so openly about me choosing other Beast Husbands?'
'Or are males just slow to develop feelings? I don't even like to share a bag, a pen, or an eraser, let alone a person.'
'Aren't jealousy and possessiveness just uncontrollable instincts?'
Zhi Le took the chin of the little female, who had lowered her head again, between his fingers. The soft, warm skin felt so smooth that he couldn't help but rub it gently as he began to explain what he'd been doing earlier.
"This cave is too small. I've asked some friends to help me expand it further back, and then we'll make a stone table and some stone chairs. What do you think?"
Si Shuo turned her head to look at the cave. This would be their home from now on. Her mind was suddenly filled with ideas, and she asked a series of questions with a beaming smile.
"How far, can we expand? Two, rooms this big? One, for sleeping, one, for storage! Over here, for cooking... Can we carve, two rows, of little cubbies, in the wall? For clothes, and small things..."
The little female gestured excitedly, her eyes so bright they seemed to illuminate the cave, chasing away some of its cold emptiness.
Zhi Le's lips curved into a smile, infected by her enthusiasm. He grabbed her hand and pulled her closer. "Are you that happy?"
Si Shuo nodded vigorously. "Yes! This is, our own home. I've been thinking, about this, for a long time!"
Overcome with a wave of affection, Zhi Le pulled her into a tight hug and buried his face in the crook of her neck. "Little female," he said in a muffled voice, "how can you be so sweet and so easy to please?"
Si Shuo's eyes curved into crescents as she hugged his waist, adding more fuel to the fire. "My Father is gone, so I had no one to dote on me. But now, I have Zhi Le. I'm the happiest, ever!"
"So Zhi Le, you have to be happy. I will, always, always, be with you."
Zhi Le took a deep breath, suppressing the sudden, overwhelming surge of emotion that left him flustered. He pulled her out of his embrace with a mock-grumpy air and tweaked her ear. "What do you normally eat to make your mouth so sweet?"
"You're my little female, and I'm your Beast Husband. If you're not going to be with me, who else would you be with?"
Grinning, Si Shuo stood on her tiptoes and touched his ear.
An involuntary shudder ran through him. He jerked back a step and cleared his throat. "I'll go see why Cui Tai and Ke Biao aren't here yet."
Just as he spoke, two strapping Beastmen leaped up onto the ledge.
Si Shuo hid timidly behind Zhi Le, her hands clutching his clothes. "I'm going to, see, Yimei from next door."
"She asked me, to go gathering, with her tomorrow!"
Zhi Le patted her hand and turned to face her. "Take two fish with you. I'll come get you when I'm finished. If you get bored over there, you can just come home."
Si Shuo nodded. He pressed two fish into her hands, led her next door, and delivered her to Yimei.
Yimei accepted the fish without hesitation, then turned and sent two of her own Beast Husbands over to help.
"Back in the Qianmiao Tribe, did you go out gathering often, Si Shuo?" Yimei asked, grabbing a few pieces of jerky and offering them to her.
Si Shuo smiled and took a piece. The meat was dried hard, coated in a thin, uneven layer of salt crystals, and had a gamy smell. "Yes," she said. "I'd gather wild vegetables and fruits, and collect firewood."
'According to the original owner's limited memories, there wasn't much to gather and eat, aside from some wild fruits. The Beastmen were still primarily carnivorous; whether or not a family could eat their fill depended entirely on the success of the males' hunt.'