173: Chapter 173 Unfair Treatment

Elsewhere, Jin Yi pushed open the door to the Tribe Leader's Stone House. Jin Cang was sitting on a Stone Stool, idly playing with a piece of beast bone in his hand.

Seeing Jin Yi enter, he looked up and asked, "You're back?"

Jin Yi walked forward, took a small piece of beast skin from his chest, and offered it. "Father Beast, I've exchanged for an energy stone. Please take a look."

Jin Cang straightened up, took the beast skin from his hand, and slowly opened it with his other hand, revealing the dark, irregular stone inside.

He picked up the stone, about the size of a Cub's fist, and murmured, "Can this thing really enhance Innate Ability?"

Jin Yi stood to the side, his gaze also fixed on the dark stone, and voiced his thoughts: "Father Beast, rumors aren't necessarily true. Perhaps we should inquire more before blindly trying anything."

Jin Cang was very satisfied with the successor he had painstakingly nurtured. He nodded approvingly. "Correct. Rumors aren't necessarily true. But since such rumors and possibilities exist, we must take them seriously."

For example, that Sacred Female... If it were true, he would never allow her to leave. Jin Yi's Consort could only be her.

Jin Yi nodded. Suddenly remembering the scene he had just witnessed, he voiced his suspicion to his Father Beast.

"Father Beast, on my way back, I saw Outsider Beastmen living in that vacant Stone House in the Central Plaza. What's going on?"

Jin Cang set down the beast bone in his hand, a smile playing on his lips. "Those few Beastmen possess formidable strength. If they could join our Golden Lion Tribe, it would elevate our Tribe's power to a new level. I'm merely letting them stay temporarily to show our sincerity."

"Just for that reason?"

Jin Yi frowned. His Father's explanation did not dispel his suspicion; instead, it deepened his confusion.

Back then, even when his Mother had wanted that Stone House from Father Beast, he had tactfully refused.

He didn't believe his Father Beast would let Outsider Beastmen stay there for such a reason.

But since Father Beast said so, it was clear he had no intention of explaining the truth.

Jin Cang understood his child. He knew he didn't believe his reason.

If he didn't believe it, then let him find out for himself.

That Female, Bai Wanwan, was more beautiful and special than Zhuo Ling. Young Males would find it hard to resist such a Female.

Even with Jin Yi's high standards, Bai Wanwan should be the most outstanding Female he had ever seen.

Only with the chance to interact could there be a chance for him to like her and perform a Pairing Ceremony with her.

"Jin Yi, you are the future Tribe Leader. You must learn to consider the Tribe's interests. Keep an eye on those Outsider Beastmen from time to time."

Jin Yi fell silent for a moment, feeling there was something hidden in his Father Beast's words.

But he didn't press further. He simply nodded. "I understand."

"You must be tired after being away for so long. Go see your Mother and then get some rest."

"Alright."

Lost in thought, Jin Yi slowly turned and left.

Jin Cang watched his departing back and sighed inwardly.

He knew that if he told Jin Yi his true purpose—to match him with Bai Wanwan—Jin Yi would definitely resist.

He understood his child. The more he forced it, the more Jin Yi would resent it.

So, he would let Jin Yi's own curiosity lead him to observe and approach her.

Jin Yi was on his way to his Mother's dwelling. He hadn't gone far when he saw a Female standing at a crossroads.

Upon seeing him, she immediately revealed a smile and walked quickly towards him.

Jin Yi had already recognized her.

After not seeing her for so long, the Zhuo Ling before him overlapped with the vague image in his memory.

Jin Yi realized he had almost forgotten what Zhuo Ling looked like.

Zhuo Ling quickly walked up to him, a joyful smile on her pretty face.

Before coming, she had deliberately dressed up. She wore the fine linen skirt Jin Yi had given her, with a merman silk flower in her hair.

She deliberately flashed him a bright, beautiful smile, her tone coy and reproachful:

"Jin Yi, you clearly knew I was here. Why didn't you come to see me?"

Jin Yi looked at her, not speaking for a long moment. "Zhuo Ling, I told you long ago, once you have another Beast Husband, I will disappear from your life. So, there was no need for me to see you."

A pang shot through Zhuo Ling's heart. Was Jin Yi really going to let her go?

She couldn't help but raise her voice. "But you clearly said you would always like me!"

Jin Yi shook his head. "That was a promise from our youth. You already have a Beast Husband. That's all in the past."

He had kept his promise to her. Even though they weren't together, he tried to send her supplies so she could have a better life.

"Your Beast Husband told me the Black Dog Tribe was unsafe due to Eagle Beasts attacks. If you wish to stay long-term in the Golden Lion Tribe, you may remain here."

Zhuo Ling reined in her emotions, her clear eyes gazing at him. "Then, do you hope I stay?"

Unfortunately, Jin Yi did not blush furiously like the youth she remembered.

His face, noticeably more mature, remained calm. "I respect your choice. If you wish to stay, I can arrange it. If you wish to leave, I will also send people to escort you to settle in another Tribe."

"Jin Yi! You know perfectly well what I want to hear!" Zhuo Ling bit her lip, wanting to reawaken his affection for her.

"But what you want to hear, I cannot give."

Jin Yi's tone remained calm, yet carried a trace of unwavering finality.

Bai Wanwan was peeking through the crack in the door. She swore she hadn't meant to do it on purpose.

She had only meant to close the door but ended up seeing Zhuo Ling and Jin Yi in a distant, seemingly tense exchange.

Though she couldn't hear what they were saying, she could sense a subtle atmosphere between them.

Xin Feng walked over to her and asked in a low voice, "Wan Wan, what are you doing here?"

He had made several trips back and forth carrying things and had seen her crouched there each time. If she hadn't been motionless for so long, he wouldn't have come over specifically to ask.

Bai Wanwan shushed him, turned her head, and with a gossipy air, pulled him closer to the door, widening the crack.

"That's the Young Chief of the Golden Lion Tribe, Jin Yi. I heard back in the Black Dog Tribe that he and Zhuo Ling were in love but never ended up together. I just wanted to see if the rumors were true."

Xin Feng only glanced outside once before looking down at her with a mix of helplessness and fondness. "And what did you see?"

"They're too far away. Couldn't see anything."

She pouted, her desire for gossip reaching its peak.

"If you can't see anything, go eat something and rest early. Aren't you tired?"

He raised his hand and touched her face, noticing it had thinned slightly during their journey.

His gaze seemed to hold only her. The Zhuo Ling and Young Chief of the Golden Lion Tribe outside couldn't capture a fraction of his attention.

But Bai Wanwan kept stealing glances outside. When she turned back again, Xin Feng's kiss had already landed by her lips.

"Wan Wan, on the road, I saw..."

Bai Wanwan was busy eating her melon (gossiping)! Even after being kissed, she didn't snap back to reality immediately.

But his words made her feel awkward.

She had originally thought that when she was intimate with Zhu Xiu, neither Yan Lie nor Xin Feng had seen.

And when she was intimate with Yan Lie, neither Zhu Xiu nor Xin Feng had noticed.

Xin Feng didn't hold her often, and every time she wanted to take the initiative, Yan Lie would just happen to come over.

This resulted in her not having been intimate with him.

It was fine if left unsaid. Once said, it made her seem very biased.

He only gave her a light kiss before pulling back, his gaze still gentle. "I don't mean to blame you..."

Alright... She was feeling a bit guilty about the uneven distribution of attention.

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