The winter snows melted away as spring filled the Southern Beast World. Everything was returning to life—grass grew long and birds took flight, and a warm breeze carried the scent of fresh greenery.
Si Shuo sat on the platform in front of her cave entrance, her fair, slender legs dangling and swinging. She gazed out at the endless, person-high shrubs in the distance, taking in the bustle of the tribe.
However, her attention was soon captured by the commotion down below.
Directly below her cave was Yu Jiao's new home. It had three spacious caverns, and even the platform out front was four times larger than Si Shuo's.
Three middle-aged females stood at the entrance, directing a group of males who were constantly carrying things into the cave. They smiled as they pulled Yu Jiao aside to talk.
"Yu Jiao, we'll all be one family from now on. If you need anything, just let us know. No one in the Luoni Tribe will dare to bully you..."
"These pottery jars? Liwa bought them from the workshop near Dongye Forest before the last rainy season. They're much lighter and easier to use than stone pots, perfect for storing things or making soup... And these colorful beads..."
"...And these Beast Skins are from our Chazi's hunts. He's had them ready for his mate for a long time. Just take a look and decide which ones you want for bedding and which for clothes. He'll take care of it all..."
"...Our Bu Meng loves to collect Crystal Stones..."
Yu Jiao smiled and replied to each of them, her eyes glued to the many bags of gifts. She couldn't spare a thought for anything else.
Suddenly, a package thudded into Si Shuo's lap. She instinctively hugged the beast bag, but it was so heavy that its momentum pulled her forward, and she began to fall!
Si Shuo's heart seized. She squeezed her eyes shut and hugged the beast bag with all her strength, her limbs going weak with fear as she waited to crash onto the platform below.
But before she even left her seat, she was pulled into an embrace that, while seemingly slight, was exceptionally firm and warm.
Si Shuo froze for a second. As she came to her senses, she silently wrapped her free arm around his waist. "Zhi Le."
Just two simple words. Zhi Le had heard his name countless times since birth, but only from her did it carry so much emotion.
He hummed in acknowledgement, carried her into the cave bridal-style, and then brought in the two packages from the entrance.
Although the cave was empty, it was their newly assigned home, so someone had taken the time to clean it.
He chose a thick, glossy bearskin and laid it in the middle of the floor to serve as a bed, then added a layer of sheepskin on top, hide-side up.
Zhi Le patted the furs and gestured for Si Shuo to sit. He then went back to rummaging through the large bag full of Beast Skins.
He selected two smallish Beast Skins, one tough and one soft. His fingernails suddenly grew long and sharp, and he used them to cut the skins.
Si Shuo curiously hugged the Beast Skin Bag, tilting her head to watch him. The silver-haired youth was completely absorbed, using a fishbone needle to sew the soft hide into two small pouches and attach them to the tougher, stiffer piece of hide. 'He's so captivating when he's focused!'
In just ten minutes or so, before she had finished admiring him, Zhi Le was done. He gently took her foot and placed it on his lap.
Si Shuo bit her lip, trying to suppress the blush creeping up her face as she watched him carefully wipe her foot clean and slip the beast-hide shoe onto her smooth, delicate foot.
"Stand up and walk around a bit. See how they feel," Zhi Le said slowly, turning his head and gently tilting Si Shuo's chin to draw her attention.
Si Shuo quickly scrambled up. Small, evenly spaced holes had been punched around the hide, making the shoes soft and breathable. The fit was perfect, with the top of the shoe resting right at her ankle.
She walked back and forth, even stomping her feet. They felt as comfortable as a pair of Oxford shoes. "Zhi Le, you're amazing!"
Zhi Le raised an eyebrow and lazily pointed to the Beast Skin Bag in her arms. "Open it and take a look."
Si Shuo sat down beside him again and obediently opened the bag, discovering it was filled with beautiful Crystal Stones, each about two fingers wide and a palm long.
Crystal Stones were energy sources that condensed in the Dantian of Beastmen or Wild Beasts who possessed a superpower. They were the hard currency of the Beast World Continent. The color of a Crystal Core indicated the type of superpower, while its size indicated the superpower's Level.
Crystal Stones could be used to raise a Beastman's Level. Males could also transfer the energy to females to strengthen their constitution, shorten pregnancies, and enhance the talent of their unborn cubs.
The higher the Level of a Crystal Stone, the harder it was to acquire. She counted them one by one—there were more than one hundred and thirty of them. And they were all the same size. 'A Crystal Stone this large must be...'
As she looked at Zhi Le in astonishment, she saw a hint of pride in his eyes. He mouthed the words silently, "Level 6. I've been saving up. I traded them all for Level 6."
With that, he took out an emerald-green Crystal Stone, popped it into his mouth, and chewed it with a loud CRUNCH. Then, cupping the back of Si Shuo's head with one hand, he leaned in and slowly began to transfer the energy to her.
The touch of his lips made Si Shuo's mind go blank. She felt as if her head were in the clouds, completely unable to think. The young man, however, seemed to feel nothing, focused only on converting the energy for her. A cool, soothing sensation flowed down her esophagus and spread throughout her body in gentle, lapping waves.
It felt so good that Si Shuo couldn't help but let out a soft whimper. Her hands clutched at Zhi Le's clothes, and her lips brushed against his.
Zhi Le's gaze darkened, and his grip on her head tightened.
Once all the energy from the Crystal Stone was transferred, Zhi Le caressed her flushed cheek, a satisfied smile curling his lips. "There. At least you look somewhat human now."
Si Shuo, still cradling the Crystal Stones, stared at him dazedly. "Level 6... for Si Shuo? To make me stronger?"
Zhi Le nodded and said calmly, "You're my female now. I can't have you going to meet the Beast God just a few days after we've bonded, can I? If that happened, people wouldn't say you were frail; they'd just blame me for being incompetent.
'And a male can never be called incompetent!'
"Besides, you'll have whatever anyone else has. Don't be so pathetic, staring longingly at what others get."
Warmth spread through Si Shuo's heart. She smiled, biting her lip, and nodded emphatically. "Okay. I only want... what Zhi Le gives me."
Zhi Le glanced at her messy hair and dirty appearance, then rummaged through the Beast Skins again and fashioned a fiery red outfit for her. "Go take a bath!"
Si Shuo's first thought was, 'Is tonight our wedding night?'
'I'm being so pathetic,' she thought. Back in her old life, she'd often hidden under the covers, bypassing firewalls to look at things her body was too weak to handle. She was bursting with theoretical knowledge but had zero practical experience. 'Even so, does my face really have to stay this flushed ever since he picked me up?'
Zhi Le shoved the clothes into her arms and picked her up just as she was about to bury her face in her chest.
Si Shuo, still clutching the beast bag filled with Crystal Cores, whispered, "Zhi Le, I can walk."
The words were barely out of her mouth when Zhi Le leaped from the mouth of the cave, some ten meters high, with her still in his arms!
When they reached the ground, Zhi Le set her down and transformed into a powerful Snow Leopard that stood taller than she did.
He crouched in front of her, tilting his great head to invite her to climb onto his back.
Si Shuo stood frozen a short distance away, her entire perception of reality being forcibly rewritten.
She knew she hadn't gotten a heart in time and had been transmigrated to the Beast World Continent, becoming a poor wretch with no Father and a Mother who didn't love her. But knowing that Beastmen could transform and seeing it with her own eyes were two entirely different things.
However, she quickly snapped out of it. Hitching up the Beast Skins she wore, she climbed onto the Snow Leopard's back, clinging on with both hands and feet, a bundle of nerves and excitement!