73: Chapter 73 Dire straits

She tugged at his clothes and, gritting her teeth, decided to just say it.

"Xin Feng, I promised Zhu Xiu that he could be my First Beast Husband..."

While Bai Wanwan was still agonizing over how to comfort him, Xin Feng chuckled softly. "Just because of that? I thought it was something major..."

Bai Wanwan was surprised by his reaction and looked up at him again. "You're not angry?"

After all, he was the first Male she had been with, and they had been very happy during their time together.

Xin Feng lowered his head, his lips brushing against her forehead. "I'm not angry. My wish is simple; as long as I can be by your side for the rest of my life, it doesn't matter what my status is."

Wan Wan was a Sacred Female; if she had been born in a Super Tribe, her Beast Husbands would be the top powerhouses of the Beast World continent.

He was lucky to have met her in the Cat Clan Tribe.

Wan Wan didn't look down on him for being a Useless Beast, and their Pairing Ceremony had given him a second chance at life.

He cherished everything he had now and had never dared to hope to become Wan Wan's First Beast Husband.

Xin Feng glanced toward the cave entrance; he knew that Zhu Xiu could actually hear their conversation.

"Wan Wan, do you like him?"

"I do."

From a purely sensory perspective, Zhu Xiu definitely fit her aesthetic preferences.

Xin Feng smiled and smoothed her hair. "As long as Wan Wan likes him, that's all that matters. I can see that he is very powerful. Having another strong Male in the family to protect you in the future puts my mind at ease."

When the Tribe was destroyed last time and Wan Wan was snatched away by Wandering Beasts, he knew that once Wan Wan's identity was exposed, he wouldn't be able to protect her on his own.

He just hadn't expected this day to come so soon.

Bai Wanwan nodded. "He is the Second Leader of Wandering Beast City, so he should be better at managing our home, which will make things easier for you too. But to me, you are both equals. If you feel wronged or think I'm doing something wrong, you can tell me directly. I don't want you to suppress your feelings because of me."

A wave of emotion welled up in Xin Feng's heart. He didn't know what other Males' Consorts were like, but the Female in their home was truly good to them.

Curled up at the entrance, Zhu Xiu hadn't felt great listening to Bai Wanwan's gentle words to Xin Feng.

He used to look with disdain at the Males in the Tribe who did everything to please their Females.

He was born with powerful Talent and had no desire to share a wife with other Males.

Nor had he met a Female he wanted to have a Pairing Ceremony with.

But by some twist of fate, while lurking in Wandering Beast City to seize the energy stone, he had unexpectedly met her.

As for sharing the Little Female with other Males, he had no such intention at all.

His initial plan was to become her Beast Husband first and then drive away the Males by her side.

But after hearing Bai Wanwan's conversation with her Beast Husband, he couldn't help but wonder: if he really did something to harm her Beast Husband...

Would Bai Wanwan get angry with him for the sake of another Beast Husband?

Gradually, the voices inside the cave died down, replaced by shallow breathing...

Zhu Xiu stared at the snowy plains outside the cave; whether or not to keep Xin Feng around was a matter for later.

He took out the energy stone he had obtained after lurking in Wandering Beast City for three years.

In the darkness, the energy stone emitted a faint glow.

This single energy stone could drive all powerful beastmen into a frenzy.

Yin Da had no idea of its true purpose, only using it to mutate beastmen and command them.

His snake tail cradled the energy stone, and Zhu Xiu felt the Innate Ability within his body beginning to stir.

He closed his eyes and began to wrap his Innate Ability around the energy stone...

Boom...

The majestic power within the energy stone was released violently, enveloping Zhu Xiu in an instant.

If Bai Wanwan and Xin Feng were awake, they would have seen a massive, dark-black cocoon-like shadow at the entrance.

Bai Wanwan slept very soundly; after all, it had been a long time since she had slept so comfortably.

When she opened her eyes, the cave was already quite bright.

Several Cubs were frolicking around playing with branches; Xin Feng was nowhere to be seen, leaving only Zhu Xiu coiled on the ground.

Sensing her awakening, his crimson pupils turned and fixed on her.

Bai Wanwan threw back the covers, wrapped herself in a beast skin, and sat up.

The sudden cold air made her shiver twice, and she felt like pulling the covers back over her head.

"Zhu Xiu, where's Xin Feng?"

Braving the cold, she quickly got dressed and crawled out from under the covers.

She peered out from the entrance but didn't see Xin Feng.

Only then did she realize that when she asked Zhu Xiu earlier, he hadn't seemed to answer.

Turning back to look at Zhu Xiu again, she noticed that although his eyes were open, they were somewhat unfocused.

Even... sluggish?

Huh?

Bai Wanwan paced over and gently patted his beast body. "Zhu Xiu?"

He was freezing to the touch, and Bai Wanwan quickly pulled her hand back.

Zhu Xiu's true form, a King Cobra, was a cold-blooded animal to begin with. She had sat on him a few times before, and his body was always cool.

But this was the first time he had been so bone-chillingly cold.

The temperature was clearly abnormal.

"Zhu Xiu? What's wrong?"

Bai Wanwan moved closer and reached out to touch his head.

Zhu Xiu moved his head sluggishly; his unfocused gaze landed on her face, yet it also seemed as if he wasn't really seeing her.

At this point, Bai Wanwan was almost one hundred percent certain that something was wrong with Zhu Xiu!

"What is wrong with you? Don't scare me!"

She hugged him, trying to warm him up.

But just as she pulled him into her arms, Zhu Xiu's beast form suddenly shifted, turning into a tall, handsome Male.

His face was very pale, and his expression was cold. Once Bai Wanwan held him, he reached out and hugged her back.

The icy temperature seeped through the thin beast skin. Bai Wanwan's lips trembled as she said, "Did you stand out in the Snowy Ground all night? Why are you so cold?"

As she spoke, she struggled to drag Zhu Xiu toward the bed.

Though Zhu Xiu didn't speak and his reactions were a bit slow, he cooperated with whatever Bai Wanwan did.

She lifted the down comforter and pushed Zhu Xiu onto the bed.

Zhu Xiu didn't let go, pulling her up with him.

She was locked firmly in Zhu Xiu's embrace; it felt as "refreshing" as being shut in a refrigerator in the middle of winter.

Bai Wanwan's teeth chattered from the cold. "Zhu Xiu, I... I'm cold. You... let go first."

Zhu Xiu didn't let go; instead, he tightened his arms.

Bai Wanwan felt like a block of ice was pressed against her; her entire face turned pale from the cold.

What had she done to deserve this! To be tortured like this in the middle of winter!

Just as she was about to reach her limit, the block of ice in front of her suddenly began to heat up.

A warm sensation spread through her, and Bai Wanwan let out a sigh of relief.

But, the temperature gradually grew higher and higher...

"Zhu Xiu, Zhu Xiu, wake up quickly!" If he didn't wake up soon, she was going to be roasted alive.

This was a nightmare; one moment she was being frozen, the next she was being roasted.

Zhu Xiu gritted his teeth, seemingly unable to hear her voice at all. His handsome face, now close to hers, seemed to be in pain; his eyes were closed, and his features were contorted as if he were enduring something.

Bai Wanwan was extremely uncomfortable, but looking at the face before her, she felt she could endure a bit longer.

"Zhu Xiu... wake up quickly, I really can't take it much longer."

As she spoke, she poked him with her hand, trying to wake him up.

When her finger poked his rock-hard abs, the closed-eyed Zhu Xiu snapped his eyes open.