System 999: ...
[Host, beastmen of different species are allowed to form mating bonds. You really shouldn't talk about yourself like that.]
Yue Ling: ...
It suddenly dawned on her that she'd insulted herself without realizing it. And somehow, System 999 had managed to turn that around into a subtle counter-mockery. For a supposedly emotionless system, it was surprisingly good at that.
[Then what exactly am I?] Yue Ling asked silently.
Her father had been a fox beast, her mother a rabbit beast—so what did that make her?
[Offspring inherit their beast form from the beast father. So in essence, you are a fox beast—specifically, a fox beastwoman.]
Got it.
Yue Ling lifted her head and said aloud, "A fox beast."
The male beastmen exchanged glances.
"No wonder," one of them said. "The fox clan is famous for their beauty."
"That's right. Only a fox beast could look this stunning."
"I can't believe our tribe actually has a fox beast."
Listening to their hushed discussion, Yue Ling pressed her lips together, her expression thoughtful.
"I need to see the shaman," she said suddenly.
Once Lang Zuo and Lang You returned, they would definitely drag her back and lock her up again. The only way out of this was to seek help from the tribe's shaman. If the shaman officially declared that her madness had healed, no one would dare imprison her again.
With that decision made, Yue Ling immediately started walking forward.
The four male beastmen hurried after her.
She wanted to see the shaman? Why? Was something wrong with her?
"Little female," one of them asked nervously, "why do you need to see our tribe's shaman? Are you feeling unwell?"
As he spoke, the others all looked at her with concern. Her complexion did seem pale, almost fragile.
Yue Ling glanced at the beastman who had spoken. The wolf beastmen in this tribe were mostly tall and lean, but this one had a sturdier, broader build.
[Host, that one is a bear beastman,] System 999 explained. [The wolf tribe doesn't consist solely of wolves. Other beast clans exist here as well. This bear beastman, for example, was born to a wolf tribe female from the previous generation.]
[You don't need to be overly afraid. The rules of the Beast God are very strong here.]
[Male beastmen cannot force a mating bond. If they do, the female has the right to expel them—or even kill the male beastman outright.]
[Likewise, male beastmen cannot harm females. Any male who kills a female will be struck down by divine punishment.]
Listening to System 999's explanation, Yue Ling let out a quiet sigh.
[Lang Zuo and Lang You didn't actually harm you,] the system added. [Their attitude is harsh, but their intent wasn't malicious.]
Yue Ling understood that there must have been reasons behind their behavior. Still, she couldn't accept it.
The wolf tribe owed her beast father a tremendous debt—yet this was how they treated his child. Even if the original Yue Ling had been mad, she had only lost her sanity after losing her father and suffering a complete emotional collapse.
Mad or not, she had still been a grieving child.
Yue Ling looked at the bear beastman in front of her, uncertain whether he had ever been one of those who took turns caring for the former Yue Ling.
She shook her head lightly. Thinking too much made her head ache. Her brain really couldn't handle too many things at once.
Yes—she was definitely better suited to giving up and conserving her energy.
Turning back to the bear beastman, she explained calmly, "What Lang Zuo said is true. I am the crazy female, Yue Ling. I'm going to see the shaman to prove that my madness has already healed."
The bear beastman's large, round eyes widened even further.
"H-how is that possible?"
Yue Ling smiled faintly. There was no point explaining further—they wouldn't believe her anyway.
She had only just left the old shaman's cave yesterday, so she remembered the path clearly.
It was around ten in the morning. Most of the young male beastmen were out hunting, leaving behind only the elderly, the weak, the sick, the females, and a few guards stationed throughout the tribe. Everyone was busy with their own duties.
Her arrival didn't cause the same uproar as earlier that morning, but she still attracted plenty of curious and assessing gazes.
The moment Yue Ling stepped into the old shaman's cave, a thick, metallic scent of blood rushed toward her, hitting her head-on.