17: You were sold by the mistress for three animal skins.

Outside the Cave, there was a rock overhang that could shelter from the rain.

White Fox had moved the simple firewood stone stove here. On it was the bone soup that hadn't been finished yesterday, and he was also preparing some beast ears to make a dish.

"Father Beast is over there!" Hu Qi said, holding Nan Zhisui's hand as they walked toward the stone stove. Because he was so happy, his steps were light, and he was even skipping a little.

"Pretty Older Sister, you said yesterday to dry the tea tree mushrooms. But it's raining today, and it looks like the Minor Rainy Season is coming, so they won't be able to dry. It's such a waste," Hu Qi said with regret.

Nan Zhisui smiled and said, "In this world, things don't always go as planned; wasting a few tea tree mushrooms is no big deal. Besides, now that it's raining, all kinds of mushrooms should appear in the forest. Next time, I'll take you to pick some and teach you how to identify them."

The plants in the Beast World were much larger than those on Earth, and when she first arrived in the Beast World over a year ago, she hadn't been very accustomed to it.

But after getting used to it, she could eat super-sized mushrooms and gnaw on huge fruits. Every time she went foraging in the forest, it felt absolutely amazing!

"Okay!" Hu Qi said happily.

Just as Nan Zhisui arrived under the rock overhang, she heard a voice from the master of the house that didn't seem very welcoming.

"Didn't you say you weren't coming back tonight? Why are you back?"

The sharp, choking tone left Nan Zhisui standing awkwardly in place. Hu Qi looked at his Father Beast and then at Nan Zhisui, confused.

The Little Immortal Child's brows furrowed instantly.

Before Pretty Older Sister came back, Father Beast had clearly been very worried about her. Why did he become cold again as soon as she returned, and why was his tone so bad?

The atmosphere wasn't good, and Little Snake Yang buried his head in Nan Zhisui's arm.

Hu Qi was a bit unhappy. He trotted a few steps and criticized his Father Beast, "Daddy, what are you doing? It wasn't easy for Pretty Older Sister to come by. Plus, she is my savior. Can't you have a better attitude? If you keep doing this, you won't be my good Daddy anymore."

She had clearly never raised Hu Qi for a single day, yet the Little Cub was siding with her and even talking back to his own father for her sake.

White Fox felt an indescribable emotion in his heart; he coughed softly a few times and turned his back.

Nan Zhisui didn't want to cause an argument between father and son because of herself, so she awkwardly apologized, "I'm sorry. It's just that it's raining, and the nearby forest doesn't seem safe, so I came here to disturb you. If... if it's inconvenient for you, I'll go ask in the village to see if there's a vacant Cave where I can stay for the night."

Nan Zhisui felt very awkward. Fortunately, the rain outside wasn't too heavy, and she prepared to go to Stone Village to ask other villagers.

"Stop." The White Fox Male turned around abruptly. His expression was slightly cold. "If you leave now, Hu Qi will start crying to me immediately."

What did that mean? Was he not letting her leave?

Nan Zhisui stopped awkwardly, unsure whether to leave or stay.

Not wanting to be an eyesore, White Fox left the simple stove, walked into the curtain of rain, and entered the Cave.

After White Fox left, Hu Qi felt the air clear up. He breathed a sigh of relief and quickly pulled Nan Zhisui to sit down by the firewood stove.

"Pretty Older Sister, everything is hot, eat quickly."

Nan Zhisui shared a small bowl of food with Little Snake Yang, who was eating big mouthfuls on the side. While eating, Nan Zhisui pondered, "Little Aqi, have I offended your Father Beast?"

Logically speaking, she had saved his cub and was treating his illness to save his life; he shouldn't be this cold to her.

Where did his hostility toward her come from?

She had only treated him for the sake of little Hu Qi. If he kept a cold Face, she wouldn't be willing to be overly friendly only to be met with coldness.

Hu Qi shook his head, "Pretty Older Sister is beautiful and kind-hearted, how could you possibly offend my Father Beast! Please don't overthink it. My Father Beast is cold to all Females; it's not directed at you."

The little fox cub had such a sweet mouth.

"Is he disgusted by Females?"

"Huh?"

It seemed so. Disgusted by all Females, a heart disease... She couldn't cure that.

Nan Zhisui was halfway through her meal when she heard some movement over by the Cave. She and Hu Qi were under the rock overhang, shielded by some plants, so those over there hadn't noticed them.

So, Nan Zhisui pulled Hu Qi to hide behind the bushes and watch.

In the drizzling rain, a young fox beastman stood at the entrance of their Cave. He pulled at White Fox with a fake smile, "White Fox, look, the Minor Rainy Season is here. My female master is missing a piece of beast skin for a mattress. See if you can lend us that beast skin of yours. Anyway, your Family doesn't have any Females."

Hu Qi's Face changed drastically upon hearing this. Their Family only had one complete beast skin left, and it had recently been used for Pretty Older Sister. If this beast skin was taken away, their Family would have no beast skin left!

If Pretty Older Sister came to visit their home, she would only be able to sleep on the hard, cold stone.

It didn't matter for him and his Father Beast, but Pretty Older Sister was a Female; she needed beast skin to use.

Nan Zhisui grabbed him. "Don't be impulsive."

Families with Females enjoyed priority in the distribution of resources within the tribe. Families without Females were always easily suppressed and bullied.

Not only were they suppressed during the distribution of resources, but they were also easily bullied by powerful Families in daily life.

White Fox coughed lightly and said weakly, "Your female master Hu Li has nine beast husbands. Can't nine Males manage to pool together a beast skin cushion for the female master?"

White Fox's tone was flat, but the subtle hint of disdain was very obvious.

Nine beast husbands, and several of them were even Beast Warriors; how could they not even hunt beasts or provide a beast skin?

The young fox beastman suppressed his temper and smiled, "We pooled, we pooled, but it's still not enough. You know... Females are delicate; no matter how much you spread out, they always think it's not soft enough. White Fox, you don't need beast skin anyway; your Family doesn't have any Females."

White Fox slowly raised his eyes, "Why do you think my Family definitely doesn't have a Female?"

The young fox beastman said, "Who doesn't know about your Family? You were sold by your female master, how could you possibly have a Female?"

White Fox's cold eyes became sharp, and the air grew colder.

Nan Zhisui was a bit surprised. Hu Qi's Family had few people, only White Fox and Hu Qi. She hadn't felt comfortable asking why before.

He was actually sold?

She was very astonished and whispered to Hu Qi, "Your Father Beast was sold by a female master?"

Hu Qi originally didn't want to mention this matter. It was a shameful Family secret, and because of this very thing, every beastman in the village could step on them.

Hu Qi's ears drooped slightly, and he said dejectedly, "Yeah, my mother... no, that Female, she sold my Father Beast for three beast skins. Pretty Older Sister, my Father Beast was actually abandoned by the female master. But my Father Beast's mate totem is still there. That Female sold my Father Beast but didn't break the mate contract... My Father Beast doesn't know what she's thinking either."

Nan Zhisui rubbed his head, "You've suffered. Your mother, no, that Female, if she knew you were living so hard, she would definitely feel sorry for you and would definitely regret it."

Hu Qi pulled the corners of his mouth into a smile, "I hope so."

After speaking, Hu Qi looked up at Nan Zhisui, "Pretty Older Sister, would you be willing to be my mother? I heard that although Males in the Beast World cannot actively break a mate contract, there are forbidden arts and secret methods to break it."

He had heard this just a few days ago when Hu Zi came to argue with White Fox.

"My Father Beast is quite good-looking, and he can cook. Except for his poor health, his temper is a bit bad, and he speaks a bit coldly..." Hu Qi's voice grew weaker as he spoke, "But! You can get a buy-one-get-one-free deal! As long as you get my Father Beast, you can get little Aqi as your cub! How great is that, don't you think?"

Seeing little Aqi trying so hard to sell his Father Beast and himself, Nan Zhisui couldn't help but laugh and rubbed Hu Qi's head. "Thank you, little Aqi, I like little Aqi too. But adult matters aren't that simple."

The matter between White Fox and the young fox beastman continued. White Fox said, "No one would dislike beast skin, especially since my Family only has the last beast skin left, and both Hu Qi and I need to use it."

The young fox said, "White Fox, our female master needs it! And we are just borrowing it; we will return it to you once the weather clears up and we hunt some beast skins."

Although they said they would return it, who knew if they would or not? And who knew if the one they returned would be the original beast skin?

White Fox said, "Then go hunt; hunt a good beast skin for your female master to use."

The young fox, seeing that White Fox was completely unmoved, finally got angry. His ugly nature was fully revealed on his Face. "White Fox, you are just a Male who was sold as a Beast Slave by a female master for three beast skins; your life isn't worth much. What are you acting so arrogant for!"