69: Chapter 69 Questioning King Zhou, Understanding King Zhou, Becoming King Zhou

Yan Qing saw Hu Che frowning at him, seemingly in disbelief.

He added, "I conquered this place a long time ago, but I have been lacking someone capable of managing it."

"You want me to help you manage the city?" Hu Che felt a faint spark of interest.

He had visited this place during his childhood. He knew it was teeming with prey, and because it connected to the Jiao Clan, no vicious beastmen settled there.

Furthermore, the Jiao Clan was merely arrogant, not cruel. As long as he could communicate well with them, he would have a place to settle his Tribe. With the protection of the Snake Tribe, they could recuperate here...

"I said, it is a gift for you. It will not be under the management of the Snake Tribe." Yan Qing interrupted Hu Che's daydreaming.

Hu Che thought he had misheard.

"Why?"

"I said, I will give you a chance worthy of her."

Hu Che stared at the region, contemplating for a moment. He immediately understood Yan Qing's true intent.

He stepped forward and pointed at the area. "If you and Chi Ling end up fighting, this place will be your dividing line. Whoever I support will likely determine the outcome."

"But if this place belongs to the Snake Tribe, and you do not want a complete falling out with her just yet, Chi Ling will definitely be able to move freely and plant her people inside."

Yan Qing curled one side of his lip. "Go on."

"If the Red Fox Tribe is here, it might look like we have occupied an important area of the Snake Tribe, but at the same time, we would be within your encirclement. You could still wipe us out at any time. There is absolutely no need to worry."

Yan Qing nodded affirmatively.

For the first time, Hu Che experienced what it was like to be a leader of a Tribe, thinking about the future of his people from a grand perspective.

His palms were slightly sweaty, like a student answering a teacher's question. He felt a sense of anticipation for Yan Qing's next reaction.

"The Jiao Clan likes the Red Fox Tribe, and the Red Fox Tribe is proficient in the Jiao Clan's language. We are the only ones who can befriend them and ensure peace in this region."

"That is not important." Yan Qing placed his hand on the stone chair and tapped it.

Hu Che furrowed his brows and pondered for a moment. Suddenly, he let his hands drop.

"Revitalizing the Red Fox Tribe here will definitely take several years. By the time I am powerful, Tang Ruan might have already forgotten me. You are even planning that I might find a Jiao Clan Mistress as an aid to revitalize the Red Fox Tribe."

Hu Che clenched his fists. "If you kill me or forcibly tear us apart, she will always remember me. She might even hate you. Only by letting me break her heart myself will she be thoroughly disappointed in me."

Yan Qing raised one hand to prop up his chin and chuckled softly. "For you, this is a deal where you win regardless of the outcome."

"But I would lose Tang Ruan!" he said excitedly.

"Not necessarily." Yan Qing stood up, walked to the opposite side of him, and looked down at him slightly.

"If you have the ability, and do not rely on a Mistress like your father and brothers—but rely on yourself instead, then you still have a chance."

Hu Che pressed his lips together. Rely on himself? Could he do it?

He now regretted it immensely; when he was supposed to be learning from his older brother, he had been watching how the bees outside the cave collected nectar! He had no idea how to be a leader!

If he could not do a good job and did not want to let his Tribe down, he would surely end up like his father, using Mind Control to obtain a powerful Mistress...

Hu Che shook his head vigorously. No! The mere thought of a future Mistress who was not Tang Ruan made him feel like he would rather be dead.

"What if I refuse?" Hu Che looked up, staring directly into Yan Qing's eyes.

"Of course you can." Yan Qing tilted his head, a mocking smile hanging on the corner of his mouth. "You can certainly choose not to care about the lives of your tribesmen, hiding here every day, waiting for her to come see you when she has free time. But... if her Beast Husband is the Snake King, do you think she would still have eyes for you?"

"You—" Hu Che had been touched on a sore spot. He was left speechless.

"Tang Ruan is not that kind of person!"

"Then you can try and see..."

The next day, Tang Ruan went to see Hu Che. She brought him many things.

"Yan Qing said Chi Ling is very angry. She does not dare to cause trouble for Yan Qing, so she will definitely come after you. Even if she has left, there must still be her spies in Wan Shou City. So, you will have to bear with staying here for a while. When the time comes, we will find an opportunity for you to go out."

Tang Ruan helped him organize the items one by one. Suddenly, a round fruit rolled out from the pile of things.

Hu Che was quick-witted, pouncing over and catching it.

Tang Ruan subconsciously reached out and rubbed his head. "I knew you would like it!" she beamed with joy.

"Me?" Hu Che was confused.

Tang Ruan pointed at the ball and said, "When you were a little fox, you particularly liked playing with balls. I searched for a long time before I found this roundest one."

Hu Che: ... He had been pretending to be cute on purpose to amuse her!

"You really treat me like a small animal..." Hu Che muttered, his heart full of unwillingness.

"I do not like it!" Hu Che handed the fruit to Tang Ruan. He did not want to be her pet. He wanted to be her Male Beastman!

"Oh!" Tang Ruan reached out somewhat awkwardly. She had been afraid he would be bored here, so she had specifically found it for him. The fact that he did not like it made her feel a bit disappointed.

Tang Ruan's hand had just touched the fruit when Hu Che suddenly grabbed her wrist with his other hand. With a forceful tug.

"Ah!" Tang Ruan was pulled down by him and fell onto his body. Just as she was about to get up, her waist was encircled by his single arm.

"Tang Ruan..." Hu Che stared into her eyes, "I have something very important to ask you. Are you willing to..."

Tang Ruan was pressed against his body. She could clearly feel the heat rising from his body. His muscle lines rose and fell with his breathing. There was also his unique, pleasant scent.

Her gaze fell right on his pink, tender lips. Her ears burned, and her heart pounded wildly. She really wanted to kiss...

Aaaaaah! She was actually cuddling with Hu Che! She was having thoughts about him again! Why did he pull her down? Had her improper thoughts about him been discovered?

Tang Ruan's heartbeat had drowned out all other sounds around them. She had not heard a single thing he said afterward.

"Tang Ruan?" Hu Che lifted her chin. Tang Ruan only then came to her senses, "What did you just say?"

The hope in Hu Che's eyes slowly disappeared... Did she not know how to refuse, so she pretended not to hear?

"It is nothing..." Hu Che raised his hand and flicked Tang Ruan on the forehead. "Ouch!"

"Just teasing you! I did not expect you to be so weak; you fell down with just one pull."

Tang Ruan: ... Could this kid not play such ambiguous games with an adult like her! She was really going to get a nosebleed!

Tang Ruan scrambled to get up in a fluster. "If you play this kind of game with me again, I am going to get angry!" She turned her back, not daring to look at him. "I will come see you tomorrow!" Saying that, she slipped away quickly.

That night, Tang Ruan lay on the soft couch, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Did Hu Che like her? Had he hugged her on purpose today? What exactly did he say today, are you willing... are you willing to become his Mistress?

Tang Ruan suddenly sat up from the soft couch. That must be it! Although his face looked young, in reality, he was already an adult Male Beastman! The two of them had been together day and night for so long, and had even experienced life and death together. He must have feelings for her.

Tang Ruan scratched her head. Aaaaaah! Since she had grown up, this was truly the first time she had desperately wanted to possess a man. As expected, people always have to go through the process of—questioning King Zhou, understanding King Zhou, and becoming King Zhou. No! She had to go find him and ask clearly.